General introduction
Why is this course important?
- Economics is part of humanities Search for well-being, stability, value in life, etc.
- Society expects graduates to possess a broad intellectual and cultural background
- Ethics develops your own self
Negative liberty
- Freedom from all external constraints and influences
- E.g., Professors should be value neutral No moral positioning or judging (while teaching)
- E.g., When going to a bar you do not receive a menu list
Positive liberty
- Freedom to choose your own path from many possibilities ( Given multiple options)
- Creating the right conditions to allow individuals to make informed decisions
- E.g., When going to bar you receive the menu ( You can make an informed choice)
Overview of this course
- Part 1: The Ethics of Economists
- Part 2: The Limits to the Market
- Part 3: Unconditional Basic Income
- Part 4: Introduction to Business Ethics
,Part 1: The Ethics of Economists
1.1 Introduction
- We need to be aware of our own ethical principles
- Self-interest model Making decision based on self-interest
- We are economists More exposed to the self-interest model
- Does this influence our ethical judgements?
1.2 Are economist different, and if so, why? ( Carter & Irons, 1991)
- Of course, economists are different from other scientists
- Are economists measurably different at fundamental levels?
- Fundamental levels Ethical principles of an individual
- Measurable Are the differences measurable?
Marwell & Ames (1981): More free-riders due to selection or learning
- 2 explanations for self-interested behavior of economists
- Selection Economists are more concerned with economic/financial incentives
- This interest often translates into self-selection into an economic education
- Learning Economic students intentionally adapt behavior to the theories they study
- Economists learn about profit maximization, etc. Behavior becomes more self-interested
- Difference between learning and indoctrination Unconsciously changing behavior
Objectives of Carter & Irons (1991)
- Checking the results of Marwell & Ames (1981)
- Testing the assumptions of the rational/self-interest model (of economists)
- Determining the impact of selection and/or learning
Bargaining experiment with 4 different groups of respondents ( Carter & Irons, 1991)
Comparation of different groups of respondents
- Comparation 1 & 2 Are economists different at beginning of education? ( Selection)
- Comparation 1 & 3 Do people become self-interest after time? ( Maturation effect)
- Comparation 2 & 4 Do economists become more selfish due to education? ( Learning)
, Simple ultimatum bargaining experiment ( Carter & Irons, 1991)
- All participants receive $2 + can earn the money decided upon in experiment
- Bargaining experiment between 2 individuals Proposer + responder
- Proposer offers division of 10$
- Responder accepts offer Both receive the proposed amount
- Responder rejects offer No-one gets anything
Assumptions of economic theory
- Rational or self-interest model ( How does an economist think?)
- Homo economicus Humans are rational and self-interested actors
- Homo economicus will maximize utility as consumer and maximize profit as producer
Predictions of economic theory
- Responder will prefer any amount above 0$
- Proposer knows Proposer keeps $9.50 and offers only $0.50
- Responder will accept
Results of this experiment ( For proposers)
- Economists keep more ( In line with economic theory)
- Seniors keep less ( Maturation results in lower level of self-interest)
Results of this experiment ( For responders)
- What is the minimum acceptable amount for a responder?
- Economists accepts less ( In line with economic theory)
- Seniors accept less ( Maturation results in lower level of self-interest)
Conclusion
- Economists accept less and keep more
- Economic behavior on average is closer to predictions of economic theory
- Economists are significantly different ( Confirmed by regression analysis)
- Regression analysis confirms selection ( Freshman economists keep more & accept less)
- Economists are born, not made ( No real evidence for learning effect)
- Economists are already different at the start of their education
- There seems to be more than self-interest that guides economists
- Results are not completely in line with economic theory ( Evidence of ethics?)
Voordelen van het kopen van samenvattingen bij Stuvia op een rij:
√ Verzekerd van kwaliteit door reviews
Stuvia-klanten hebben meer dan 700.000 samenvattingen beoordeeld. Zo weet je zeker dat je de beste documenten koopt!
Snel en makkelijk kopen
Je betaalt supersnel en eenmalig met iDeal, Bancontact of creditcard voor de samenvatting. Zonder lidmaatschap.
Focus op de essentie
Samenvattingen worden geschreven voor en door anderen. Daarom zijn de samenvattingen altijd betrouwbaar en actueel. Zo kom je snel tot de kern!
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat krijg ik als ik dit document koop?
Je krijgt een PDF, die direct beschikbaar is na je aankoop. Het gekochte document is altijd, overal en oneindig toegankelijk via je profiel.
Tevredenheidsgarantie: hoe werkt dat?
Onze tevredenheidsgarantie zorgt ervoor dat je altijd een studiedocument vindt dat goed bij je past. Je vult een formulier in en onze klantenservice regelt de rest.
Van wie koop ik deze samenvatting?
Stuvia is een marktplaats, je koop dit document dus niet van ons, maar van verkoper alexanderbollen. Stuvia faciliteert de betaling aan de verkoper.
Zit ik meteen vast aan een abonnement?
Nee, je koopt alleen deze samenvatting voor €5,49. Je zit daarna nergens aan vast.