The stats aren’t good
Less than one-third of the School of Economics’ students are women (a lower share than maths or physics), while more than one-third of our students are privately-educated (compared to one-quarter across the university).
There are also twenty times the number of students from the richest areas of the country in economics compared to the university average.
This is a national problem that starts in schools - one in four boys in private schools takes A-level economics, compared to one in ten boys in state schools and one in 25 girls in state schools.
Economics is not offered at all in around half of all state schools.
Tackling economics’ image problem
Let’s be honest – economics has an image problem.
Seventeen-year-olds we surveyed described economics as ‘about money and finance’ and ‘not interesting’.
We know that economics helps us understand how the world works and how to make it a better place. It is at the heart of understanding issues like climate change, inequality, poverty and health care.
But communicating this to young people is a challenge.
The lack of diversity among economics students is a problem because the economists who occupy key policy roles in government need to reflect the society that they help to shape.
By not studying economics, these students also miss out on a degree that leads to high-paid and rewarding future careers.
We need to change this perception of economics and economists to encourage the next generation of bright young people into the field.
Bristol leading the way
In October 2019, we launched a national campaign to challenge the stereotypes and broaden the appeal of economics to potential students aged 15 to 17.
Discover Economics aims to attract more students from under-represented groups (female, state school/further education college and ethnic minority students).
In October 2022, we introduced an economics-specific outreach programme, involving student champions delivering taster sessions in local schools.
Seven University of Bristol student champions delivered ten sessions to year 11 PHSE students in Churchill School. They talked taxes and government spending - rooting the discussion in relatable issues.
The sessions significantly increased students’ reported likelihood of studying economics, and we’ll continue to track the students to see what they do go on to study.
As we’d hoped, the biggest changes reported were in the opinions of female students, non-white students and students on free school meals.
Students reported that ‘The people were really nice’, the session was ‘engaging’ and ‘inclusive’ and that it ‘improved [their] knowledge of economics and what they could do with it in the future’.
This is where you come in
Following our initial success, we now need your help to deliver more sessions across more schools.
Our next target is to deliver 100 more sessions, with each costing around £150 to run. This covers the cost of two student champions being paid £45 each (£15 per hour for three hours, including preparation and travel) and the cost of travel to each school and back.
Please give what you can to support this valuable work.
You can find out more about our work on the Discover Economics website.
