Dossier: «Rethinking the teaching of economics in universities» coordinated by Carolina HintzmannISSUE 5 (MAY 2016)

The knowledge economy and the knowledge of economics

Abstract

This article examines how the advent of the third industrial revolution (the knowledge economy) transforms the scientific paradigm of the economy and, therefore, purposes new challenges for the economic analysis and teaching. Linking to the history of economic thought, the paper obtains two main conclusions. First, there is a need to articulate new behavior and new performance metrics of the economy. In particular, it suggests the need to move from individual behavior towards the collective behavior, from the monetary transaction towards the knowledge exchange, from oligopolistic competition to the business networks, from the economic firm towards the social firm, and from the national, international and world economy to the global economy. Secondly, it also suggests new approaches for teaching economics. In particular, recover all branches of economic thought (beyond neoclassical economics), and reconfigure the organization of teaching towards an interdisciplinary and transversal knowledge network to solve economic and social problems.

knowledge economy;  economic theory;  applied economics;  economic growth;  history of economic thought;  quality education;  decent work and economic growth; 

ODS

ODS ODS 4 ODS 8

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