Perceptions and opinions of non-economics majors regarding economics - evidence from German survey data

Abstract

This paper investigates whether the common factors that motivate economics majors to study economics also apply to non-economics majors. Using data from a survey of business students from Germany, this paper explores the reasons for increased interest in economics based on perceptions and opinions regarding economics. The results suggest that the influence of opinions regarding economics aligns with related research; therefore, future income and job-related expectations are also relevant motivational factors for non-economics majors. This is also true in relation to the students' perceptions of their experiences with economics lectures. The calculation of marginal effects enables additional insights into the interdependencies of the identified factors. The influences not only hold on average but also indicate a predominantly consistent pattern when moving by one point on the Likert scale.