The Effect of Academic Discipline on Policy Attitudes: The Case of Czech University Students

Abstract While the effect of academic discipline on political attitudes has long been acknowledged, much less is known how disciplinary background affects policy attitudes. Linder and Peters (1992) argued that to instruments correspond with discipline: lawyers are assumed tend be partial legalistic regulatory instruments, economists favor economic tools such as loans or taxation. Nevertheless, relevant empirical evidence almost non-existent. The paper attempts bridge this gap by comparing in different disciplines a sample Czech university students (N = 8820). We inquire whether fields (with special emphasis economics, law, education, science, mass media/journalism) differ their views. In line previous research, pursuing economics law (as well education) found more right-wing oriented than science media. Students also terms overall acceptance those being most accepting all types instruments. However, we find little support for correspondence thesis proposed Peters.