economics and the [d]evolution of enronistan

Ian Murray seamus2001 at attbi.com
Thu Jun 20 18:47:41 PDT 2002


"Does economics make citizens corrupt" Bjorn Frank & Gunther Schulze Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization Vol. 43 (2000) p 101-113

Abstract:

In this paper, we report on an experiment on corruption which investigates various determinants of corruptibility. We found that economics students are significantly more corrupt than others, which is due to self-selection rather than indoctrination. Moreover, our results vary with gender - male students of economics are most corrupt, male non-economists the least. Also agents are no less corrupt if rewarded in addition to, and independently of a possible bribe. Our experiment isolates the influence of self-interest on cooperation from other influences such as risk attitude and expectations regarding the behavior of others.

At least some economists are teaching about the issue:

http://www.econ.barnard.columbia.edu/~polisci/courses/3500xl02.pdf



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