Do Economists Make Bad Citizens?

Robert Frank (), Thomas D. Gilovich and Dennis T. Regan

Journal of Economic Perspectives, 1996, vol. 10, issue 1, 187-192

Abstract: Although field experiments and classroom surveys are ambiguous about whether economists are less likely than others to cooperate in social dilemmas, three important points remain clear: economics training encourages the view that people are motivated primarily by self-interest; there is clear evidence that this view leads people to expect others to defect in social dilemmas; and there is also evidence that, when people expect partners to defect, they are overwhelmingly likely to defect themselves. These points' logical implications appear to place a heavy burden of proof on those who insist economics training does not inhibit cooperation.

JEL-codes: A11 A13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1996
Note: DOI: 10.1257/jep.10.1.187
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (98)

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