Economy and economists in Chile: Cultural psychology, professional identity and a changing country
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Abstract
Objective. To explore from a cultural and psychological perspective two aspects of the professional identity of a group of Chilean economists: the moral “superiority” of their role and the relevance of holding a positive orientation within this role. Methods. Qualitative study based on 25 semi-structured interviews conducted with economists based in Chile (17 male y 8 female), at different degrees of their career, working at some of the most relevant institutions for the local economics community. Results. Quite diverse and even contradictory positions were reported about the two aspects of the research aim, which makes it difficult to obtain an average position for the interviewed participants. However, there was consensus about the important role that economists have had in Chile during recent decades, as well as in the perception of a positive orientation in their own work and of a normative orientation in the work of others. Coda. Even though the sociopolitical and cultural elements that surround economists in Chile can not be understated, they are not sufficient to understand the way in which economists create their position within the discipline and the local scientific community.
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