Integrating programming into the modern undergraduate economics curriculum

Abstract

The increasing demand for computational skills in economics necessitates the integration of programming into undergraduate economics curricula in the UK. This paper argues for a systematic incorporation of programming courses tailored to economics students, addressing the limitations of current approaches and highlighting the benefits of such integration. We propose a sequence of introductory and intermediate-level integrated courses, and argue that this curriculum change will enhance students’ understanding of economic concepts, improve their employment prospects, and better prepare them for postgraduate studies. This paper aims to initiate a discussion and exchange of ideas and experiences on this subject at the national level.