Factors Underlying Trends in Economics Majors: A Cause for Concern?

Bruce M. Skoorka and Carol M. Condon

The American Economist, 2002, vol. 46, issue 2, 54-64

Abstract: This paper identifies factors that are important in explaining recent trends in undergraduate economics majors. The decline in economics majors during the nineteen-nineties has caused concern in the profession because the declining trend had been attributed to a general decrease in student interest in the economics major. This study uses least squares regression techniques to explain trends in economics Bachelor degrees granted by 20 New Jersey colleges and universities during the 1979–2000 period, with implications for the national level. The results show that trends in economics majors are primarily a function of demographic trends, business cycle conditions, and the desire to attend post-graduate professional school. Hence, the recent declining trend in the number of economics graduates may not be a cause for concern. [JEL A22,129, Z00]

Date: 2002
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:amerec:v:46:y:2002:i:2:p:54-64

DOI: 10.1177/056943450204600205

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