The unfolding of neoliberalism in academic economics: a case study of Colombia

We document and analyse the emergence and consolidation of neoliberalism in higher education in economics in Colombia. The research focuses on four interrelated categories through which neoliberal ideology changed the scientific field of economics by replacing endogenously developed analytical traditions during the 1980s–1990s: 1) homogenisation of curricula; 2) neoclassical mathematisation; 3) use of textbooks; 4) quantitative assessment (scientometrics) of academic quality. We describe each category and evidence its implementation in the education of Colombian economists. Our analysis highlights the role of the neoliberal transformation of economics in the more general process of social acceptance of neoliberal values.