This research was motivated by my concern about the way economics is currently being taught in our universities. Students who come to us to 'study economics' instead become experts in mathematical manipulations. Furthermore, I suspect that their views on economic issues are influenced by the way we teach, perhaps without them even realising it.
Abstract;
A survey was carried out among two groups of undergraduate economics students and four groups of students in mathematics, law, philosophy and business administration. The main survey question involved a conflict between profit maximisation and the welfare of the workers who would be fired to achieve it. Significant differences were found between the choices of the groups. The results were reinforced by a survey conducted among readers of an Israeli business newspaper and PhD students of Harvard. It is argued that the overly mathematical methods used to teach economics encourage students to lean towards profit maximisation.
Related;
Does Studying Economics Inhibit Cooperation?
Do Economists Make Bad Citizens?
Are political economists selfish and indoctrinated? Evidence from a natural experiment
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