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Learning to Lose a Leg: Casualties of PhD Economics Training in Stockholm

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Author Info
Anne D Boschini () (Stockholm University)
Matthew J Lindquist () (Stockholm University)
Jan Petterson ()
Jesper Roine () (Stockholm School of Economics)

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Abstract

The Swedish Economist Assar Lindbeck has recently expressed concern that PhD programs are not educating enough “two-legged” economists. We surveyed all PhD students enrolled at Stockholm University and the Stockholm School of Economics—strong European graduate programs that have adopted the US-style curriculum. The survey response rate was 73 percent, so we place great confidence in the admittedly limited information that the survey does provide: Students enter with a relatively broad academic background, an interest in the social sciences, and a desire to serve the community. They do not enter graduate school with a primary interest in statistics or mathematical work. They find that incentives within the program do not encourage participation in the policy debate. To the extent that new PhDs are “one-legged” economists, it is not because they entered graduate school that way. Our results are remarkably similar to the results of the 1985 survey conducted by David Colander and Arjo Klamer. We consider the possibility that in each case the process that generates expectations of those entering had not caught up to the changes, resulting in palpable dissatisfaction among the currently enrolled students.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Atlas Economic Research Foundation in its journal Econ Journal Watch.

Volume (Year): 1 (2004)
Issue (Month): 2 (August)
Pages: 369-379
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Handle: RePEc:ejw:volone:369-379

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Related research
Keywords: Economics education; Ph.D. programs in Economics;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
A23 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Graduate

References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:

  1. Krueger, Anne O, et al, 1991. "Report of the Commission on Graduate Education in Economics," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 29(3), pages 1035-53, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Colander, David & Klamer, Arjo, 1987. "The Making of an Economist," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 1(2), pages 95-111, Fall. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  3. Assar Lindbeck, 2001. "Economics in Europe," CESifo Forum, Ifo Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 2(1), pages 31-32, 03. [Downloadable!]
  4. Per Skedinger & Dan Johansson, 2004. "In Sweden, Anti-Globalizationists Dominate Public Discourse, Econ Profs Do Little," Econ Journal Watch, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, vol. 1(1), pages 175-184, April. [Downloadable!]
  5. Frey, Bruno S & Eichenberger, Reiner, 1993. "American and European Economics and Economists," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 7(4), pages 185-93, Fall. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Wendy A. Stock & T. Aldrich Finegan & John J. Siegfried, 2006. "Attrition in Economics Ph.D. Programs," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 96(2), pages 458-466, May. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Benny Carlson and Lars Jonung, 2006. "Knut Wicksell, Gustav Cassel, Eli Heckscher, Bertil Ohlin and Gunnar Myrdal on the Role of the Economist in Public Debate," Econ Journal Watch, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, vol. 3(3), pages 511-550, September. [Downloadable!]
  3. Petersen, Verner C., 2005. "The otherworldly view of economics - and its consequences," Working Papers 2005-13, University of Aarhus, Aarhus School of Business, Department of Management. [Downloadable!]
  4. Jonung, Christina & Ståhlberg, Ann-Charlotte, 2006. "The Fruits of Economics - A Treat for Women? On gender balance in the economics profession in Sweden," Working Paper Series 5/2007, Swedish Institute for Social Research. [Downloadable!]
  5. Johansson, Dan, 2004. "Economics without Entrepreneurship or Institutions: A Vocabulary Analysis of Graduate Textbooks," Ratio Working Papers 58, The Ratio Institute. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  6. Daniel B. Klein, 2005. "The Ph.D. Circle in Academic Economics," Econ Journal Watch, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, vol. 2(1), pages 133-148, April. [Downloadable!]
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