ABSTRACT
From the numerous Europe-USA comparisons that have been made recently, several contrasts emerge. American economics, compared with that of Europe, is characterized by:
1 greater proneness to fashions and intolerance of heterodox ideas (Baumol 1995); 2 greater homogeneity across departments (Forte 1995), at least in research-orientated
universities (Niehans 1995); 3 more competitive labour markets and higher mobility (Frech 1995; Tabellini 1995); 4 greater emphasis on technique and less emphasis on applied theory (Frey and
Eichenberger 1992, 1993; Portes 1987; Eggertson 1995); 5 less hierarchical organization of departments, with individuals free to pursue
independent research at a much earlier age (Frech 1995); 6 less involvement in public policy debates and (Frey and Eichenberger 1992, 1993); 7 lower social status of academics (Klamer 1995); and 8 more highly developed graduate programmes (Niehans 1995).
