Marketplace All-in-One Even an econ degree does not insulate you from AI
Feb 4, 2026
Wendy Carlin, UCL economics professor and leader of the Core Econ curriculum project, discusses how AI is reshaping demand for econ graduates. She describes employers hiring fewer junior economists and shifts in hiring preferences. She argues for rethinking economics education and teaching students to use AI effectively while preserving deep learning.
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AI Threatens Business Software Models
- AI advances threaten not just jobs but entire business software models.
- Markets reacted quickly as companies like LegalZoom and Expedia plunged on the news.
Hong Kong Employers Shift Hiring Preferences
- Hong Kong employers reported needing fewer fresh econ majors as firms adopt AI.
- Some consultancies now prefer philosophy and history majors over econ or business students.
Problem Sets Are Vulnerable To Automation
- Traditional econ problem sets are structured tasks that AI can handle efficiently.
- That undermines part of the labor-market premium econ majors historically enjoyed.