Tag Archives: teaching economics

Explanation of why expected utility theory is "an ex-hyoptheis."  Actually, there is a lot more wrong with it such hypotheses used as assumptions in the construction of homo economicus, and the exportation of homo economicus from theory to practical use. Homo economicus is a theoretical construct used to simplify the complexities of human behavior for use in an economic model. But human behavior is not limited to economics other than in quite specialized cases, where it is reasonable...

Includes Stiglitz quote, "there is no invisible hand."Lars P. Syll’s BlogRational expectations — the triumph of ideology over science Lars P. Syll | Professor, Malmo University

Pramit Bhattacharya quote.  Double significant since it is a signal of rising criticism of the profession coming from outside the Anglo-American world that is presently dominant. Hopefully, this is a sign that this domination of ideas and methods will not spread and will be balanced soon. Lars P. Syll’s BlogSeven sins of economicsLars P. Syll | Professor, Malmo University

Short and not wonkish. Worth a read. Information Transfer Economics My introductory chapter on economics Jason Smith

Our intro courses fail to reflect the dramatic advances in economics – concerning information problems and strategic interactions, for example – since Samuelson’s paradigm-setting 1948 textbook. Missing, too, is any sustained engagement with new problems we now confront and on which economics has important insights for public policy – climate change, innovation, instability and growing inequality amongst them. This column introduces a free online interactive text – now used as the standard...

Every few years, I teach (in addition to ec 10) a freshman seminar for about a dozen students. The seminar is essentially a book group for students who are taking introductory economics concurrently or who have advanced placement credit in economics. Here is a list of this year's books: Greg Mankiw's BlogA Reading List Greg Mankiw | Robert M. Beren Professor of Economics at Harvard University