This is always a relevant question... especially when I hang out with my interdisciplinary grad student nerdfriends. The graph above basically explains their results studying University of Washington undergrads:
We find that economics majors are less generous than students majoring in a
non-economics discipline within the College of Arts and Sciences, and that this lack of generosity is due to selection, not indoctrination. But we also find an indoctrination effect for non-majors: voluntary giving by non-majors – but not by majors– declines significantly after exposure to microeconomics instruction.
I feel motivated to make a holiday donation.
Addendum (1/1/2011):
In donated to Partners in Health (Paul Farmer is brilliant) and Wikipedia (a public good!).
We find that economics majors are less generous than students majoring in a
non-economics discipline within the College of Arts and Sciences, and that this lack of generosity is due to selection, not indoctrination. But we also find an indoctrination effect for non-majors: voluntary giving by non-majors – but not by majors– declines significantly after exposure to microeconomics instruction.
I feel motivated to make a holiday donation.
Addendum (1/1/2011):
In donated to Partners in Health (Paul Farmer is brilliant) and Wikipedia (a public good!).
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