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How Should We Think About the Intermediate Microeconomics Course in Light of Recent Trends in the Economics Major?

Author

Listed:
  • Gail M. Hoyt
  • Emily C. Marshall
  • Roisin O’Sullivan
  • Darshak Patel
  • Anthony Underwood

Abstract

Recently, the number of undergraduate economics bachelor’s degrees conferred has declined as has the percentage of total degrees conferred to economics majors (IPEDS). Simultaneously, the fraction of economics degrees conferred to econometrics and quantitative economics (STEM-designated) has been rising (IPEDS; Marshall and Underwood 2020). These concurrent trends, alongside a perpetual underrepresentation of females and other minorities in economics, motivate an examination of the core economics curriculum components. This paper discusses aspects of intermediate microeconomics, a foundational and almost universally required course in the economics major and explores how this course may play a role in these trends.

Suggested Citation

  • Gail M. Hoyt & Emily C. Marshall & Roisin O’Sullivan & Darshak Patel & Anthony Underwood, 2025. "How Should We Think About the Intermediate Microeconomics Course in Light of Recent Trends in the Economics Major?," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 70(2), pages 284-294, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:amerec:v:70:y:2025:i:2:p:284-294
    DOI: 10.1177/05694345251353199
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emily C. Marshall & Anthony Underwood, 2022. "Is economics STEM? Process of (re)classification, requirements, and quantitative rigor," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(3), pages 250-258, June.
    2. Amanda Bayer & David W. Wilcox, 2019. "The unequal distribution of economic education: A report on the race, ethnicity, and gender of economics majors at U.S. colleges and universities," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(3), pages 299-320, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. George Orlov, 2025. "Changing the Nature of the Intermediate Microeconomics Course," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 70(2), pages 334-339, October.
    2. Diego Mendez-Carbajo, 2025. "Editorial Updates, Issue Review, and Teaching Intermediate Microeconomics Symposium," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 70(2), pages 191-192, October.

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    JEL classification:

    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General
    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate

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