The win
Against a backdrop of escalating violence and political instability in the country, Rethinking Economics Ecuador successfully reshaped their university curriculum at Facultad de Ciencias Económicas at the University of Guayaquil to reflect pluralist and heterodox economic perspectives. The curriculum reform introduced concrete shifts in economic teaching: microeconomics courses now analyse price discrimination through the lens of the pink tax, while economic policy courses examine inflation from multiple theoretical perspectives rather than a single framework. Beyond institutional change, the group evolved from student-led research into a professional economic journalism and media initiative, launching a podcast in partnership with the Pontificia Universidad Católica that extends pluralist economic discourse into public conversation.
The way there
The group’s research started examining IMF policy impacts in the Ecuador economy, initially published as a book chapter. This caught the attention of university authorities. The group leveraged this institutional support to implement comprehensive changes across multiple economics courses, expanding their impact beyond the classroom through media appearances, while hosting spaces for peer reviewed publications addressing Ecuador’s security crisis, human rights, politics, gender inequalities, and care work.
Factors of success
- Despite the deteriorating security environment, members were able to combine academic research with accessible public engagement moments (podcasts, TV interviews), creating multiple pressure points for institutional change.
- University authorities receptiveness to evidence based curriculum reform proved crucial, as did the group’s ability to translate abstract economic concepts into tangible examples with great communication skills, expanding their reach.
Learnings
- Curriculum redesign requires both critique and concrete alternatives, showing how pluralist approaches improve teaching makes the case stronger.
- Sustaining momentum requires evolution, moving from student led initiatives to professional platforms ensures continuity.
- Online organising and media work can help groups gain visbility and influence.
Curriculum Health Check update: University of Leeds
University of Leeds is an undergraduate course that Rethinking Economics UK argues fits many of the principles that we want to see from an economics education.
Tuesday 4 November 2025
Sustained student pressure secures win at University of Copenhagen
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Wednesday 1 January 2025
Swiss group VWelles Bern runs Pluralist Economics lecture
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Monday 1 January 2024