Are Economists Influenced by Their Moral Worldviews? Evidence from the Moral Foundations of Economists Questionnaire

Abstract

Is it possible to use the moral judgments of economists to predict their findings on positive, empirical economic propositions? We consider this question using data we collected using a questionnaire of positive and normative economic propositions, as well as a series of propositions used for measuring moral intuitions. Our analysis of economists’ responses to this survey suggests that moral intuitions have a significant influence on substantive, empirical conclusions via the same channels by which moral intuitions shape normative worldviews. We conclude that the long-recognized line between positive and normative analysis is much blurrier than widely understood.

Keywords: Economists, Psychology, Moral Economics, Normative Economics, Positive Economics, Political Economy, Moral Foundations

JEL Classification: A11, A13, B40, B59