<p>I read this great post on the best college econ majors (<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1690542-post14.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1690542-post14.html</a>) and I wondering if people have perspectives on the predominant normative economic philosophies at each, as well as the school they subscribe to (Austrian, Chicago, Keynesian) or Monetary/Neoclassic/etc. I'm particularly interested in the first 2 groups.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t think I can really help with your question too much, but as far as Austrian schools, they’re pretty nonexistent. A few schools have a faculty with a lot of Austrians/libertarians (George Mason is the main one that comes to mind), but they’re rare. Most schools I think have a neoclassical-Keynesian faculty. But I don’t think any of this really matters anyhow, because all undergraduate economics, and even most grad school econ programs, teach basically the same stuff.</p>
<p>I can see where it matters as I would prefer to hear the subject matter spun in a way that appealed to me. I also see how it could allow one to “hit-it-off” easier with a professor or even allow you to get away with more of what you really want to say in class and on assignments.</p>
<p>That said, I am also interested in what philosophies dominate each program. I would also be interested to know the concentration of libertarian professors. It seems very difficult to compile the information, but I guess this is the best place for you to start.</p>
<p>I forgot to put in University of Chicago- a school famous/notorious for its free market orientation. But again I don’t think ideology/school of thought matters at the undergrad level of econ. There’s a few things all economists, no matter what school, agree on. For example, Intermediate Micro is gonna be taught pretty much the same no matter where you go, likely even with the same Hal Varian Microecon book. Good schools will have better econ professors/TAs, but the content will be the same. But if you are thinking about connections and becoming an economist, it might help to get a professor with beliefs that align with yours.</p>
<p>George Mason is probably the place (I believe Walter E. Williams teaches there). Also, I think the Ludwig Von Mises Institute might be based out of Auburn University (not 100% on that one).</p>
<p>Well, to the best of my knowledge, GMU is the only department that actually specializes in Austrian economics and they have plenty of libertarians. Less established schools, predominantly in the south also have some faculty members that specialize in public choice or Austrian econ, i.e. Ole Miss and Auburn. I agree with the above posters though, intermediate micro is taught pretty much the same way wherever you go. The upper division electives however will vary by the school’s research specialty and size.</p>