Most Economists Welcome Ideological Openness, A Survey Indicates
8 Pages Posted: 4 Apr 2012
Date Written: April 4, 2012
Abstract
A sample of 299 U.S. economics professors responded to our 2010 survey, which asked: “Suppose you are reading or listening to an economist, and he discloses his own ideological proclivities. Which best represents your attitude toward his doing so:” The results surprised us. Sixty-three percent of respondents chose “I welcome it,” twenty percent chose “I am indifferent,” and only ten percent chose “I dislike it.” Most economists, it appears, welcome ideological openness, and only a small minority dislikes it. Follow-up questions asked reasons why the respondent liked (or disliked) it. These results suggest that economists – or, at least those inclined to complete a survey – are quite inclined toward natural discourse.
Keywords: Ideological openness, value-freedom, economists
JEL Classification: A13, A14, B4
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation