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Teaching the polycrisis: Assessing the effect of pluralist education in Italian economics programs

Author

Listed:
  • Michela Ciccotosto

    (University of Turin)

  • Oleksandra Sokolenko

    (Roma Tre University)

  • J.Christopher Proctor

    (Roma Tre University
    Sorbonne University Alliance, University of Technology of Compiègne)

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a survey of economics students in Italy. The survey was motivated by a review of the curriculum of Italian economics programs and was designed to assess the links between how pluralist students claimed their economics education was, and their assessment of how adequately various topics were taught, how well they thought their education contributed to the development of a number of skills, and their overall satisfaction with their degree program. The results of our survey were then analyzed using an ordered logit model which found large and significant links between pluralism and student satisfaction, reported topical coverage and the formation of some skills. No statistically negative correlations between pluralism and any skill or topics were found. A categorization of the results of an open-ended question from the survey asking students what they would change about their education “if they had a magic wand” is also presented. The results of the study point to increasing pluralism as an intriguing option for departments looking to attract and retain students and as a useful tool for training economists who are prepared to face current and future global economic challenges as represented in the concept of the polycrisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Michela Ciccotosto & Oleksandra Sokolenko & J.Christopher Proctor, 2024. "Teaching the polycrisis: Assessing the effect of pluralist education in Italian economics programs," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 219-269, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:revepe:v:5:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s43253-024-00122-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s43253-024-00122-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Norgaard, Richard B., 1989. "The case for methodological pluralism," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 1(1), pages 37-57, February.
    2. Elsa Egerer & Arthur Jatteau, 2022. "Maths, macro, micro: is that all? Evidence from an international study on economics bachelor curricula in 14 countries," Post-Print hal-04101315, HAL.
    3. Alan Freeman, 2009. "The Economists of Tomorrow: the Case for a Pluralist Subject Benchmark Statement for Economics," International Review of Economic Education, Economics Network, University of Bristol, vol. 8(2), pages 23-40.
    4. Smita Srinivas, 2020. "Institutional variety and the future of economics," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 13-35, May.
    5. Sheila C. Dow, 2008. "Plurality in Orthodox and Heterodox Economics," The Journal of Philosophical Economics, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, The Journal of Philosophical Economics, vol. 1(2), pages 73-96, March.
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    7. Claudius Gräbner & Birte Strunk, 2020. "Pluralism in economics: its critiques and their lessons," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 311-329, October.
    8. Laura Porak & Rouven Reinke, 2024. "The contribution of qualitative methods to economic research in an era of polycrisis," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 31-49, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economics education; Pluralist economics; Interdisciplinarity; Survey; Student perspectives; Polycrisis; Italy; Ordered logit model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General
    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • B50 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - General
    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists

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