Do Economists Make Bad Citizens?
Abstract
Although field experiments and classroom surveys are ambiguous about whether economists are less likely than others to cooperate in social dilemmas, three important points remain clear: economics training encourages the view that people are motivated primarily by self-interest; there is clear evidence that this view leads people to expect others to defect in social dilemmas; and there is also evidence that, when people expect partners to defect, they are overwhelmingly likely to defect themselves. These points' logical implications appear to place a heavy burden of proof on those who insist economics training does not inhibit cooperation.Download Info
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Article provided by American Economic Association in its journal Journal of Economic Perspectives.
Volume (Year): 10 (1996)
Issue (Month): 1 (Winter)
Pages: 187-192
Note: DOI: 10.1257/jep.10.1.187
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Related research
Keywords:Find related papers by JEL classification:
- A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
- A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
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As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:- Is Economics the Problem?
by James Kwak in the baseline scenario on 2011-02-18 13:00:25 - 660. Psychology of money
by admin in Reflections on Gardenworld Politics on 2011-02-19 03:19:56
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