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Good Neighbours / Bad Citizens: Personal Value Priorities of Economists

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  • Gandal, Neil
  • Roccas, Sonia

Abstract

Several recent studies found that the behaviour of economists was less cooperative than the behaviour of non-economists. Other studies found, however, that economists behaved no differently than other individuals. In this Paper, we study this issue by examining personal value priorities of economics students and students from other disciplines. Values are desirable goals that transcend specific situations and serve as guiding principles in people's lives. We find that the value priorities reported by students of economics are different from those reported by students from other fields: Economists attribute more importance to achievement and power values and less importance to universalism. Our findings also indicate that the value differences between students of economics and students from other disciplines were already apparent before students were exposed to training in economics.

Suggested Citation

  • Gandal, Neil & Roccas, Sonia, 2002. "Good Neighbours / Bad Citizens: Personal Value Priorities of Economists," CEPR Discussion Papers 3660, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:3660
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert H. Frank & Thomas Gilovich & Dennis T. Regan, 1993. "Does Studying Economics Inhibit Cooperation?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 7(2), pages 159-171, Spring.
    2. Robert H. Frank & Thomas D. Gilovich & Dennis T. Regan, 1996. "Do Economists Make Bad Citizens?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 10(1), pages 187-192, Winter.
    3. John R. Carter & Michael D. Irons, 1991. "Are Economists Different, and If So, Why?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 5(2), pages 171-177, Spring.
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    Cited by:

    1. Amélie Goossens & Pierre-Guillaume Méon, 2010. "The impact of studying economics, and other disciplines, on the belief that voluntary exchange makes everyone better off," Working Papers CEB 10-012.RS, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    2. Hamza Bennani, 2015. "Dissecting the brains of central bankers: The case of the ECB’s Governing Council members on reforms," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 141, pages 97-114.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Value priorities; Economists;

    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines

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