Economics has been getting more mathematical with the passage of time. Students opt for maximum papers in mathematics so that they can remain competitive academically at the international level.
Stark inequalities are present in the syllabi within India. In the South, the undergraduate degree does not lay much of emphasis on mathematics in comparison to the North, where the emphasis on mathematics is very high. One reason is that, in the South a degree is Economics is considered as one of the Arts subject, while in the North it is transitioning into a Science subject.
This affects the discipline of Economics. In certain areas of Economics, it requires analysis which needs the use of mathematics; but is it that Economics requires mathematics in all areas’ But again, this depends on if one views Economics as a Positive or a Normative discipline.
Axel Leijonhufvud writes in his paper The Uses of the Past– The history of economic thought used to be part of the graduate studies in economics. Sixty or seventy years ago, it was common of famous teachers like Lionel Robbins or Jacob Viner to approach economic theory by way of its development. Today, of course, this is seen as an archaic way of going about it and it has become quite uncommon. The history of thought is still a tolerated subject-in at least a few places- but not one to be studied to improve ones understanding of today’s economics. [Via: New Economist]
For those who want to have a deeper understanding of the discipline of Economics, learning the history of economic thought will prove to be highly beneficial. It will help in understanding how the dominant theories came by and how the theories get refuted. When history of economic thought is aided with economic history, it will provide a clearer understanding of economics to the student.
References
1) The Uses of the Past, Axel Leijonhufvud, December 2006.
Further Readings
1) History of Economic Thought