Reading group at Nuffield College. Wednesdays, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Weeks 2, 3 and 6.

Overview

Rethinking Economics Oxford is holding three reading group sessions this Michaelmas. We read and discuss critical work on how economics is taught, practised and justified. No prior reading group experience is needed. Open to all.

Sessions

Week 2, Wednesday 21 October

How Does Monetary and Fiscal Policy Affect the Economy in the Face of Large Shocks?

Greg Kaplan and Ken Miyahara (2026), NBER Working Paper 35400

https://www.nber.org/papers/w35400 (https://www.nber.org/papers/w35400)

Week 3, Wednesday 28 October

Core readings:

What Is Neoclassical Economics? The three axioms responsible for its theoretical oeuvre, practical irrelevance and, thus, discursive power

Christian Arnsperger and Yanis Varoufakis (2006), Panoeconomicus

https://panoeconomicus.org/index.php/jorunal/article/view/298 (https://panoeconomicus.org/index.php/jorunal/article/view/298)

Kenneth Arrow’s fundamental critique of neoclassical economics

Yam Maayan Yeshoron (2025), Journal of Economic Methodology

https://doi.org/10.1080/1350178X.2025.2539249 (https://doi.org/10.1080/1350178X.2025.2539249)

Optional reading:

The Unchanging Soul of Neoclassical Economics: Lakatosian Perspective on Becker’s Economic Approach

Aleksander Ostapiuk (2026), Panoeconomicus

https://panoeconomicus.org/index.php/jorunal/article/view/2194 (https://panoeconomicus.org/index.php/jorunal/article/view/2194)

Week 6, Wednesday 18 November

A critical discussion of Isabella Weber’s book Anti-Fascist Economics (out 15 October), ahead of her talk in Week 7. The talk is advertised separately.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/476377/anti-fascist-economics-by-weber-isabella/9780241796757 (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/476377/anti-fascist-economics-by-weber-isabella/9780241796757)

Details

Time: 4:00 to 5:30 pm

Place: Butler Room, Nuffield College (Weeks 2 and 3). Week 6 room to be confirmed.

Description supplied by the event organiser.