AN EMANCIPATORY DISCIPLINE
Definition rooted in a political economy
Defines economics as the study of the economy, specifically the production and distribution of economic surplus and consumption of resources, both socially and politically embedded.
Climate-Conscious
An economics that recognises the planetary boundaries and limits to endless growth.
People-Focused
An economics that rejects ideas that benefit the privileged minority and treats people as human beings who are part of communities, with their specific cultures, history, disadvantages and inequities.
Decolonised
An education that uses economics as a tool to explore and understand both historical and ongoing dynamics of oppression that shape the discipline itself, knowledge production, our economies and the world. Showcasing economics that takes into account the informal economy, race, gender, unequal exchange and the routes to economic and political decolonisation.
A SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE
Evidence-based
An economics that teaches economic theory based on evidence and rooted in real world examples and contexts, valuing qualitative research as equally important as quantitative.
Pluralist
An education that is open to a diverse range of teaching methods, methodologies and schools of thought.
Critical
An economics that is open to critical discussion, debate and new ideas, taught in relation to history, power and the current geopolitical context. Research that critically engages with all priors, questions assumptions, has a good sense of power relations and forms of institutionalised suppression, and advocates for diverse perspectives.
Interdisciplinary
An education that actively brings in learning from other disciplines and teaching across different departments.
DEMOCRATIC AND INCLUSIVE INSTITUTIONS
Democracy
Universities and other institutions that put economics education, research and practice in the hands of the students, teachers and workers.
People over profit
Universities and other institutions that promote the wellbeing of their members and society over profit.
Accessbility
Universities and other institutions that are built for the working classes and are accessible to all regardless of digital barriers, race, gender, disability or any other barriers to participation.