Evidence on the goodness of economists

Does economics make you a nicer, better person? I know what you are thinking and I am inclined to agree but there is nothing like some good evidence. This paper looks at the association between economics study and pro-social behaviour including voter turnout and volunteering.

Is economics coursework, or majoring in economics, associated with different civic behaviors?
S Allgood, W Bosshardt,W an der Klaauw,M Watts
Studies regularly link levels of educational attainment to civic behavior and attitudes, but only a few investigate the role played by specific coursework. Using data collected from students who attended one of four public universities in our study, we investigate the relationship between economics coursework and civic behavior after graduation. Drawing from large samples of students in economics, business, or general majors, we compare responses across the three groups and by the number of undergraduate economics courses completed. We find that undergraduate coursework in economics is strongly associated with political party affiliation and with donations to candidates or parties, but not with the decision to vote or not vote. Nor is studying economics correlated with the likelihood (or intensity of) volunteerism.
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:fednsr:450&r=edu

Assorted Links

1. The Economist on British schools

2. Are "Dublin graduates" more likely to find jobs?

3. Poor students 'just as likely to gain good degree'

4. Volunteering: something that people feel morally obligated to do when asked, but which they would just as soon let someone else do?

5. Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Economist on the dangers of getting too excited

6. Speaking of curbing enthusiasm, below is a clip from the TV show where Larry David teaches Christian Slater the unwritten rules of hors d'oeuvres consumption. Peter Martin explains how this video illustrates the work of Elinor Ostrom for which she won this year's Economics Nobel Prize (on rules for managing common-pool resources).

hedonistic paradox

A recent paper in Journal of Public Economics explores the idea that more altruistic people are happier than people who are greedy. Using evidence from combining well-being measures, psychometric markers and information on play in dictator games they find evidence for personality traits leading people toward greater levels of both giving and happiness. The authors conclude that "The results of this and other studies raise the question of whether greater attention should be paid to the potential benefits (beyond solely the material ones) of policies that promote charitable donations, volunteerism, service education, and, more generally, community involvement, political action, and social institutions that foster psychological well-being." Perhaps the 1 per cent levy imposed here in Ireland to finance the recent budget will cheer everyone up!

Konow, James & Earley, Joseph, 2008. "The Hedonistic Paradox: Is homo economicus happier," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(1-2), pages 1-33, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)