1. Thinking like an economist
Thinking like an economist? A Quantitative Analysis of Bachelor Curricula
in the Netherlands Tieleman, De Muijnck, Kavelaars & Ostermeijer Rethinking Economics NL

2. What should be the focus of an economics education?
Method: Learning to “think like an economist”
Topic: Understanding “the economy”

3. Ranking of qualities of the ideal academic economist
(Van Dalen et al., 2015)

4. Ranking of qualities of the ideal professional economist (Van Dalen et al., 2015)

5. What do Dutch economics bachelor programs teach?
Data source: course outlines
275 courses
62 indicators for each course
Triangulated by students who followed the courses

7. Sub-questions Research methods Theoretical approaches
Real world economics
Critical thinking

12. What tools for critical thinking are taught?
Obligatory Course(s) on
Ethics
5 of the 9 universities
Philosophy of Science
6 of the 9 universities
Economic Methodology

13. “Economics is a social science, not a lost branch of physics
“Economics is a social science, not a lost branch of physics. This important report demonstrates how far the study and teaching of economics, in its search for precision and tractability, sacrifices a deeper inquiry into what the subject is actually about.” Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator of The Financial Times “I can personally attest to the value of a pluralistic and multidisciplinary approach. Absent such qualities, your policy advice will simply not be taken seriously by those you are trying to influence.” William White, Chairman of the Economic and Development Review Committee, OECD

14. www.economieonderwijs.nl & www.economicseducation.org
New website
&