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We, economics students of the world, declare ourselves
to be generally dissatisfied with the teaching that we receive. This is
so for the following reasons :
1. We wish to escape from imaginary worlds !
Most of us have chosen to study economics so as to
acquire a deep understanding of the economic phenomena with which the
citizens of today are confronted. But the teaching that is offered,
that is to say for the most part neoclassical theory or approaches
derived from it, does not generally answer this expectation. Indeed,
even when the theory legitimately detaches itself from contingencies in
the first instance, it rarely carries out the necessary return to the
facts. The empirical side (historical facts, functioning of
institutions , study of the behaviors and strategies of the agents . .
. ) is almost nonexistent. Furthermore, this gap in the teaching, this
disregard for concrete realities, poses an enormous problem for those
who would like to render themselves useful to economic and social
actors.
2. We oppose the uncontrolled use of mathematics !
The instrumental use of mathematics appears necessary.
But resort to mathematical formalization when it is not an instrument
but rather an end in itself, leads to a true schizophrenia in relation
to the real world. Formalization makes it easy to construct exercises
and to manipulate models whose significance is limited to finding "the
good result" (that is, the logical result following from the initial
hypotheses) in order to be able to write "a good paper". This custom,
under the pretence of being scientific, facilitates assessment and
selection, but never responds to the question that we are posing
regarding contemporary economic debates.
3. We are for a pluralism of approaches in economics !
Too often the lectures leave no place for reflection.
Out of all the approaches to economic questions that exist, generally
only one is presented to us. This approach is suppose to explain
everything by means of a purely axiomatic process, as if this were THE
economic truth. We do not accept this dogmatism. We want a pluralism of
approaches, adapted to the complexity of the objects and to the
uncertainty surrounding most of the big questions in economics
(unemployment, inequalities, the place of financial markets, the
advantages and disadvantages of free-trade, globalization, economic
development, etc.)
4. Call to teachers : wake up before it is too late !
We appreciate that our professors are themselves
subject to some constraints. Nevertheless, we appeal to all those who
understand our claims and who wish for change. If serious reform does
not take place rapidly, the risk is great that economics students,
whose numbers are already decreasing, will abandon the field in mass,
not because they have lost interest, but because they have been cut off
from the realities and debates of the contemporary world.
We no longer want to have this autistic science imposed on us.
We do not ask for the impossible, but only that good sense may prevail. We hope, therefore, to be heard very soon.
Autisme-EconomieLe site du mouvement des étudiants pour
une réforme de l'enseignement de l'économie
to be generally dissatisfied with the teaching that we receive. This is
so for the following reasons :
1. We wish to escape from imaginary worlds !
Most of us have chosen to study economics so as to
acquire a deep understanding of the economic phenomena with which the
citizens of today are confronted. But the teaching that is offered,
that is to say for the most part neoclassical theory or approaches
derived from it, does not generally answer this expectation. Indeed,
even when the theory legitimately detaches itself from contingencies in
the first instance, it rarely carries out the necessary return to the
facts. The empirical side (historical facts, functioning of
institutions , study of the behaviors and strategies of the agents . .
. ) is almost nonexistent. Furthermore, this gap in the teaching, this
disregard for concrete realities, poses an enormous problem for those
who would like to render themselves useful to economic and social
actors.
2. We oppose the uncontrolled use of mathematics !
The instrumental use of mathematics appears necessary.
But resort to mathematical formalization when it is not an instrument
but rather an end in itself, leads to a true schizophrenia in relation
to the real world. Formalization makes it easy to construct exercises
and to manipulate models whose significance is limited to finding "the
good result" (that is, the logical result following from the initial
hypotheses) in order to be able to write "a good paper". This custom,
under the pretence of being scientific, facilitates assessment and
selection, but never responds to the question that we are posing
regarding contemporary economic debates.
3. We are for a pluralism of approaches in economics !
Too often the lectures leave no place for reflection.
Out of all the approaches to economic questions that exist, generally
only one is presented to us. This approach is suppose to explain
everything by means of a purely axiomatic process, as if this were THE
economic truth. We do not accept this dogmatism. We want a pluralism of
approaches, adapted to the complexity of the objects and to the
uncertainty surrounding most of the big questions in economics
(unemployment, inequalities, the place of financial markets, the
advantages and disadvantages of free-trade, globalization, economic
development, etc.)
4. Call to teachers : wake up before it is too late !
We appreciate that our professors are themselves
subject to some constraints. Nevertheless, we appeal to all those who
understand our claims and who wish for change. If serious reform does
not take place rapidly, the risk is great that economics students,
whose numbers are already decreasing, will abandon the field in mass,
not because they have lost interest, but because they have been cut off
from the realities and debates of the contemporary world.
We no longer want to have this autistic science imposed on us.
We do not ask for the impossible, but only that good sense may prevail. We hope, therefore, to be heard very soon.
Autisme-EconomieLe site du mouvement des étudiants pour
une réforme de l'enseignement de l'économie
