Title: Critical theory and critical thinking in economics

Authors: Corinne Pastoret

Addresses: Department of Economics, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury P3E 2C6, Ontario, Canada

Abstract: Economists have been criticised for their failure to anticipate the current economic crisis and to provide solutions for a recovery. A different crisis was also taking place in the background: that of the almost exclusive teaching of a single paradigm in economics and the neglect of past economic theories, as well as any alternative theory or fundamental critiques. This situation resulted in the homogenisation of the discourse of economists who are missing the necessary tools to understand new phenomena and make adequate policy recommendations. We propose to reform the teaching of economics, while developing students' abilities to become useful social actors.

Keywords: critical realism; critical thinking; economics curriculum; critical theory; interdisciplinarity; pluralism; post-autistic movements; economics education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPEE.2012.051137

International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, 2012 Vol.3 No.3, pp.266 - 276

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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