Date: Wed, 18 Jun 97 09:59 LCL From: PHILLPS To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Political Economy Programs In response to the falling off of enrollment in economics programs across Canada and at our university, some of us are pushing for the establishment of an alternative political economy stream. We have a strong contingent of politcal economists in the department and already offer courses in alternative macro (post keynsian/marxian> and micro (neo-ricardian/ marxian> as well as courses in Marxian economics and a number of institutional based courses. However, we still require our students to take calculus, econometrics, orthodox neoclassical micro and new-keynesian macro. What we have found is that a number of students -- including a disturbing proportion of our best students, are rejecting our honours and graduate programs because they feel that orthodox economics (applied mathematics) is basically irrelevant and becoming less and less marketable in the job market. The spate of articles recently in journals and in the Globe and Mail about the irrelevance of contemporary economics is increasingly being reflected in student attitudes, not to mention employers, politicians and the general public. This is the reason for our renewed interest in starting an alternative stream. This is all a prelude to a request: Could all of you who have polical economy programs at your university send me a brief outline including required courses, program requirements, graduate programs, etc., either by e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]> or by snail-mail at Paul Phillips Department of Economics, University College, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. R3T 2M8 Thanks, Paul Paul Phillips
