Is Economics education fit for the 21st Century?
18 days ago
- #climate-conscious learning
- #economics education
- #curriculum reform
- Economics education in the UK is out of step with 21st-century challenges like climate change and colonial history.
- 75% of universities lack ecological economics, treating environmental issues as market pricing problems.
- 55% of universities do not meaningfully address slavery, colonialism, or neocolonialism in their curricula.
- 88.3% of theory modules focus on neoclassical economics, emphasizing rational, self-interested individuals and quantitative skills.
- Economics is largely taught in isolation from other social sciences like politics, sociology, and history.
- SOAS and the University of Greenwich stand out for their critical, climate-conscious, and diverse economics programs.
- Calls for change include focusing on climate, inequality, and real-world economics, and reforming teaching methods to encourage critical thinking.
- Recommendations include decarbonizing and decolonizing curricula, reforming assessments, and democratizing decision-making in economics education.