| Abstract: |
A substantial body of research suggests that economists are less generous than
other professionals and that economics students are less generous than other
students. We address this question using administrative data on donations to
social programs by students at the University of Washington. Our data set
allows us to track student donations and economics training over time in order
to distinguish selection effects from indoctrination effects. We find that
economics majors are less likely to donate than other students and that there
is an indoctrination effect for non-majors but not for majors. Women majors
and non-majors are less likely to contribute than comparable men. |