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by osclarto 1615 days ago
I graduated with an econ BSc from a Russel Group University in the UK, it was definitely not made clear where and where not there was actual empirical evidence for the conclusions of the neoclassical modelling we were taught. The state of syllabi around the world is a total embarrassment.
2 comments

I'd happily go even further and say that economics as a field is a total embarrassment
Its not a total embarrassment, its more akin to christian apologetics or academic study of lord of the rings.

That ia, clever and learned people with a rich, well documented history, studying a fantasy.

The first question to ask is when you graduated. Syllabi continue to become more and more empirical, but that process started in the 90’s and accelerated in the 2000’s.

MIT’s Micro Principles class has at this point been rewritten so that it is “the Principles of Economics and Relevant Empirical Evidence.” (That’s my gloss on it not the actual title.)

My class definitely features examples from the news every week or every day.

I cite the research literature when I can, but it’s not really possible to get in depth with students who are taking their first course in the subject.