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Rethinking Economics USA is a network of students and academics allying to rethink and change economics education in the United States. Joining us in conversation today are Abigail Acheson and Nouhaila Oudija, two leading members of the movement making waves across the globe. 

The underlying principle behind Rethinking Economics is based on the reality that economics is predominantly taught through a monistic lens that excludes any school of thought outside of the neoclassical approach. During today’s conversation, our guests share their personal experience with economic study, and offer an informed overview of the movement as a whole. 

During this eye-opening episode, listeners will hear how the foundations of economic study in academia can have implications far beyond the classroom, and why as a field of study, it cannot be approached as purely technical. 

Join us today to hear about the broad scope of economics in academia and beyond, and how you can be part of the solution in the movement towards deconstructing the neoclassical approach today.

Key Points From This Episode:

• An overview of Rethinking Economics and today’s guests, Nouhaila Oudija and Abigail Acheson. [0:00:33]

• The origins of Rethinking Economics in the UK after the 2008 recession. [0:04:36]

• The implications of curriculum reform beyond the classroom. [0:08:47]

• Why we urgently need to rethink the monistic way that we think about economics. [0:12:04]

• Why it is so important that we invite pluralism of thought into our approach to economic study. [0:19:16]

• What can be learned from Rethinking Economics’ recent survey project. [0:15:37]

• The de-emphasis on key issues of our time in the field of economic study. [0:17:59]

• The broad scope of economics which reaches far beyond what is purely technical. [0:21:24]

• Departmental responses to deconstructing the neoclassical approach to economic study. [0:27:05]

• The long-term vision for Rethink Economics and how they are moving toward it. [0:30:25]

• What Rethink Economics needs to grow during its upcoming phases. [0:34:13]

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Tweetables:

“We can say that there’s a significant history to our movement. We hope to spread the word and regain some momentum here in the US around this really fundamental issue.” — Nouhaila Oudija [0:06:42]

“We’re receiving more and more solicitations from students that resonate with our mission and really want to see change in their economics departments, and that want to set up groups to have these conversations.” — Nouhaila Oudija [0:07:51]

“The overwhelming majority of economics curricula do not expose their students to alternative schools of thought. In fact, students are not even told that what they’re being taught is just one school of thought.” — Nouhaila Oudija [0:15:17]

“Economics is not something that is purely technical, mathematical objectivity, it is the study of people going about ordinary life. And because we are moral beings who have values and are part of a society, that in itself is a moral undertaking.” — Abigail Acheson [0:21:24]

“We want to democratize economics. We want to make economics something that is available to the vast majority of people.” — Abigail Acheson [0:22:54]

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Rethinking Economics: https://www.rethinkeconomics.org/

Nouhaila Oudija on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nouhaila-oudija-6a6129150/

Abigail Acheson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-acheson-a96091246/

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