World student movement could become major player in the struggle to bring pluralism and freedom of inquiry to economics
from Edward Fullbrook
An emergent worldwide grassroots movement of economics students, the International Student Initiative, has the potential of becoming a major force that could work alongside the academics’ World Economics Association (now 13,000 strong) to break the neoclassical stranglehold on economics and to bring the real world back into the classroom. Launched in May, the ISI already boasts 65 associations of economics students from 30 countries, 5 continents and representing 13 languages groups. For the most part they are based in individual universities. Together they constitute a coordinated grassroots base that has the potential of serving as the launch pad for a massive worldwide student rebellion in the coming academic year, one that would see 100s more of these associations formed, each focused on reforming the economics curriculum of their university.
The formation of these student associations can be greatly facilitated by encouragement and moral support from faculty members. If you would like to help please go tohttp://www.isipe.net/supportus/
Below is the ISI‘s manifesto, a partial list of the student organizations, a partial linked list of their websites, and a linked list (67) of media coverage. Here to begin with is a world map showing ISI associations to date: https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zvX9yagJNn6Q.kvsKlktWlGeg
The ISI states its objectives as follows.
It is not only the world economy that is in crisis. The teaching of economics is in crisis too, and this crisis has consequences far beyond the university walls. What is taught shapes the minds of the next generation of policymakers, and therefore shapes the societies we live in. We, over 65 associations of economics students from over 30 different countries, believe it is time to reconsider the way economics is taught. We are dissatisfied with the dramatic narrowing of the curriculum that has taken place over the last couple of decades. This lack of intellectual diversity does not only restrain education and research. It limits our ability to contend with the multidimensional challenges of the 21st century – from financial stability, to food security and climate change. The real world should be brought back into the classroom, as well as debate and a pluralism of theories and methods. Such change will help renew the discipline and ultimately create a space in which solutions to society’s problems can be generated.
United across borders, we call for a change of course. We do not claim to have the perfect answer, but we have no doubt that economics students will profit from exposure to different perspectives and ideas. Pluralism will not only help to enrich teaching and research and reinvigorate the discipline. More than this, pluralism carries the promise of bringing economics back into the service of society. Three forms of pluralism must be at the core of curricula: theoretical, methodological and interdisciplinary.
Here is a partial list of the student associations
- Mouvement étudiant québécois pour un enseignement pluraliste de l’économie, Canada
- Estudios Nueva Economía, Chile
- Grupo de estudiantes y egresados de la Facultad de Economía y Negocios de la Universidad de Chile, Chile
- Det Samfundsøkonomiske Selskab (DSS), Denmark
- Post-Crash Economics Society Essex, England
- Cambridge Society for Economic Pluralism, England
- Better Economics UCLU, England
- Post-Crash Economics Society Manchester, England
- SOAS Open Economics Forum, England
- Alternative Thinking for Economics Society, Sheffield University, England
- LSE Post-Crash Economics England
- Pour un Enseignement Pluraliste de l’Economie dans le Supérieur (PEPS-Economie), France
- Netzwerk Plurale Ökonomik (Network for Pluralist Economics), Germany
- Oikos Köln, Germany
- Real World Economics, Mainz, Germany
- Kritische WissenschaftlerInnen Berlin, Germany
- Arbeitskreis Plurale Ökonomik, München, Germany
- Oikos Leipzig, Germany
- Was ist Ökonomie, Berlin, Germany
- Impuls. für eine neue Wirtschaft, Erfurt, Germany
- Ecoation, Augsburg, Germany
- Kritische Ökonomen, Frankfurt, Germany
- Arbeitskreis Plurale Ökonomik, Hamburg, Germany
- Real World Economics, Heidelberg, Germany
- Stundent HUB Weltethos Institut Tübingen, Germany
- LIE – Lost in Economics e.V., Regensburg, Germany
- Javadhpur University Heterodox Economics Association, India
- Economics Student Forum – Tel Aviv, Israel
- Economics Student Forum – Haifa (Rethinking Economics), Israel
- Rethinking Economics Italia, Italy
- Grupo de Estudiantes por la Enseñanza Plural de la Economía, UNAM, Mexico
- Oeconomicus Economic Club MGIMO, Russia
- Glasgow University Real World Economics Society, Scotland
- Movement for Pluralistic Economics, Slovenia
- Post-Crash Barcelona, Spain
- Asociación de Estudiantes de Económicas de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
- Estudantes de Económicas e Empresariais, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Lunds Kritiska Ekonomer, Sweden
- Handels Students for Sustainability, Sweden
- PEPS-Helvetia, Switzerland
- Rethinking Economics, UK
- Rethinking Economics New York, United States
- Sociedad de Economia Critica, Argentina and Uruguay
Here a partial list of student association websites.
Better Economics UCLU, London http://bettereconomicsuclu.tumblr.com/
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom www.cambridgepluralism.org
DSSAarhus.dkwww.facebook.com/DSSAarhus Det Samfundsøkonomiske Selskab (DSS)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Economiacriticaext/ Economía Crítica Extremadura
http://rethinkeconhaifa.wordpress.com/https://www.facebook.com/RethinkeconIsrael Economics Student Forum, Haifa, Israel (with Rethinking Economics)
http://www.etres.tk/ Estudantes de Económicas e Empresariais, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Estudios Nueva Economíahttp://www.estudiosnuevaeconomia.clcontacto@estudiosnuevaeconomia.cl
Was ist Ökonomie? Kritische Wissenschafterlnnen Berlin & Potsdam http://www.wasistoekonomie.de/https://www.facebook.com/wasistoekonomie Contact: http://www.kritische-wirtschaftswissenschaften.de/start.htm
http://gibanjezaekonomskopluralnost.weebly.com Gibanje za ekonomsko pluralnost, Ljubljana
https://www.facebook.com/GURWES/info Follow our blog: http://gurwes.wordpress.com/ Read about us in the WEA:http://www.worldeconomicsassociation.org/newsletterarticles/gurwes Contact:gurealworldeconomicssociety@gmail.com Glasgow University Real World Economics Society (GURWES)
facebook.com/KritiskaEkonomer Lunds Kristiska Ekonomer
info@economiepluraliste.asso.sthttp://economiepluraliste.asso.st/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mouvement-%C3%A9tudiant-qu%C3%A9b%C3%A9cois-pour-un-enseignement-pluraliste-de-l%C3%A9conomie/694643217249167?notif_t=fbpage_fan_invite Mouvement étudiants québécois pour un enseignement pluraliste de l’économie
post-crasheconomics.com Post-Crash Economics Society, Manchester
rethinkecon.it Rethinking Economics Italia at LUISS
http://www.rethinkecon.co.uk/#!newyorkconference/c1lmt Rethinking Economics New York
http://www.rethinkecon.co.uk/ or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rethinkecon Rethinking Economics UK
facebook.com/groups/186138144923586/ SOAS Open Economics Forum, London
https://www.facebook.com/HandelsStudentsForSustainability Handels Students for Sustainability, School of Economics, Business and Law, University of Gothenburg
ppesociety.org.au PPE Society, La Trobe University
oikos-international.org oikos International
https://www.facebook.com/iproeco Initiavite Pro Economics (Iniciativa Pro Económicas), National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, León.
Assemblée Générale des Etudiants de Louvain (AGL) Université catholique de Louvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) www.aglouvain.be
Bureau des Etudiants en ESPO (BDE ESPO) Université catholique de Louvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) | www.facebook.com/BDE.ESPO
Roter Börsenkrach Group of economics students at the Unviversity of Vienna (http://www.univie.ac.at/strv-vwl).
https://www.facebook.com/ECOPSoc Sydney University Political Economy Society
The ISI has been very successful at attracting attention in the media. Below is a list of media coverage links.
AUSTRALIA
2014/05/13 – The Age – The Problem with the way we educate Economists
AUSTRIA
2014/05/06 – Die Presse – VWL-Studenten fordern Neuausrichtung ihres Fachs
2014/05/06 – Vorarlberger Nachrichten – Wirtschaftsstudenten fordern Neuausrichtung
2014/05/05 – Die Presse – Studenten der Ökonomie in der Krise
2014/05/05 – DiePresse.com – Studenten fordern neue Wirtschaftslehre
2014/05/05 – Tiroler Tageszeitung – Wirtschaftsstudenten fordern Neuausrichtung ihres Fachs
2014/05/05 – Studium.at – Wirtschaftsstudenten aus 19 Ländern fordern Neuausrichtung ihres Fachs
2014/05/05 – ORF.at – Wirtschaftsstudium: Aufruf zu Neuausrichtung
2014/05/05 – Der Standard – Manifest gegen die Krise der Ökonomie
2014/05/05 – Der Standard – Wirtschaftsstudenten fordern Neuausrichtung ihres Fachs
2014/05/05 – Kurier – Studenten protestieren gegen ökonomische Lehre
2014/05/05 – APA-OTS – Manifest gegen die Krise der Ökonomie
2014/05/05 – ORF.at – Neuausrichtung des Fachs gefordert
BULGARIA
2014/05/05 – News.bg – Студенти въстанаха срещу начина на преподаване на икономика по света
CANADA2014/05/10 – Le Devoir – Faire l’économie d’une réforme (à la une du cahier Économie)
2014/05/10 – Le Devoir – Nos yeux (éditorial économique de la fin de semaine)
2014/05/07 – Radio Centre-ville 102,3 FM – Émission Planète Montréal (à 42m20s)
2014/05/07 – Réseau de l’information (RDI) – Émission RDI Économie (à 7:00)
2014/05/06 – ICI Radio-Canada – Émission C’est pas trop tôt! (à 7h51)
2014/05/05 – IRIS – Qu’est-ce qui cloche avec la science économique?
2014/05/05 – Le Devoir – Il faut renouveler l’enseignement de l’économie.
2014/05/05 – Radio-Canada – L’heure du monde (radio show at 30min.)
CHINA
2014/05/05 – Phoenix New Media – 19国经济系学生：高校狭隘自由市场理论教育损害了世界
2014/05/05 – South China Morning Post – 经济学科与现实社会脱节 19国经济系学生吁改革
CROATIA
2014/05/05 – Srednja – Studenti ekonomije pozivaju na protest Tvrde da su njihovi fakulteti krivi za financijsku krizu u svijetu
DENMARK
2014/05/05 – Politiken – Undervisningen i økonomi er i krise
2014/05/05 – DR Netradio – Radio Interview with Mads Falkenfleth Jensen, of DSS
FINLAND
2014/05/14 – Taloussanomat – Ekonomisteilla on tosi kummallisia näkemyksiä ihmisistä
FRANCE
2014/05/14 – Libération/AFP – Cours d’éco à la fac: des maths, des stats, mais peu de concret
2014/05/07 – Le Nouvel Observateur – Economie: des étudiants disent non à la “pensée unique”
2014/05/05 – Le Monde – Pour une économie pluraliste : l’appel mondial des étudiants
GERMANY
2014/05/06 – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung – Wirtschaftsstudenten prangern einseitige Lehre an
2014/05/06 – Zeit Online – Studentenaufruf – Wider die intellektuelle Monokultur in den Wirtschaftswissenschaften
2014/05/05 – detektor.fm – Internationaler Protest: Studenten wollen eine andere Wirtschaftslehre
2014/05/05 – Handelsblatt – Studenten protestieren gegen ökonomische Lehre
2014/05/05 – NachDenkSeiten – Manifest der ökonomischen Vernunft
ISRAEL
2014/05/23 – Reshet A, Radio Interview – Tip of the Iceberg, with: Dr. Oshy Kraus
2014/05/18 – Reshet A, Radio Interview – The Real Economy, with: Eran Hildsheim
2014/05/09 – The Marker – The models are collapsing: “How come economics undergraduates never encounters social-economics dilemmas”?
2014/05/05 – Mako – Students around the world: a revolution in economics teaching needed
2014/05/04 – The Marker – Students around the world: a revolution in economics teaching needed
ITALY
2014/05/05 – pagina99 – Il manifesto degli studenti per un’economia plural 2014/05/05 – Huffington Post Italy – Quando gli studenti di economia vogliono studiare di più (e meglio)
2014/05/05 – Economia e Politica – Dichiarazione globale per il pluralismo in economia
SPAIN
2014/05/12 – El País – El mundo real en las aulas
2014/05/12 – La Vanguardia – Rebel.lió a les Facultats d’Economia (printed edition)
2014/05/06 – El Confidencial – Estudiantes de Economía de 20 países, contra un plan docente ‘pobre, gris y aislado
2014/05/06 – El Mundo – Estudiantes de Económicas de 19 países reclaman una enseñanza ‘pluralista’
2014/05/06 – El Diario – Estudiantes de economía de todo el mundo piden pluralidad en los planes de estudios
2014/05/06 – El Diario – Rebelión en las aulas de economía
SWEDEN
2014/05/05 – Lars P. Syll Blog – Pluralism in economics
SWITZERLAND
2014/05/05 – Handelszeitung – Manifest gegen die Krise der Ökonomie
TAIWAN
2014/05/05 – UDN – 多國經濟系生籲改課程 應付21世紀問題
UNITED KINGDOM
2014/05/11 – The Observer – After the crisis, we need a revolution in the way we teach economics
2014/05/09 – The Guardian – University economics teaching isn’t an education: it’s a £9,000 lobotomy
2014/05/05 – Financial Times Blog – Economics students of the world, unite!
2014/05/04 – The Guardian – Economics students call for shakeup of the way their subject is taught
2014/05/04 – The Guardian – Economics teaching and the real world
UNITED STATES
2014/05/13 – The New Yorker – Rebellious Economics Students Have A Point
2014/05/05 – Naked Capitalism – An International Student Call For Pluralism In Economics
2014/05/05 – AlterNet – Students From 19 Countries Demand End to Economics Curriculum That Blocks Progress on Everything from Food Security to Climate Change
INTERNATIONAL
2014/05/05 – World Economics Association Newsletter – An international student call for pluralism in economics
2014/05/05 – Global Economic Intersection – Students from 19 Nations Call for Overhaul of Economics
2014/05/05 – Steve Keen’s Debtwatch – The students are revolting
2014/05/05 – Real-World Economics Review Blog – The manifesto of 42 networks of economics students from 19 countries
2014/05/05 – Business Insider – Economics Students Are Fed Up With The Way Their Subject Is Being Taught
2014/05/05 – Environmental Economics – Economics students call for shakeup of the way their subject is taught
