Round Four

1975 saw renewed strife. One political economy tutor was sacked at Christmas, and others denied promotion or pushed out of the University. Ted Wheelwright, an associate professor and leading political economist was denied the third Chair in economics. It went instead to a little-known mathematical economist, whose credentials were far less impressive.

Staff in the economics department favouring political economy circulated a paper claiming the conservative professors with the Vice Chancellors concurence, could be expected to use their power to undermine the new courses. Such was the power framework.

In the meantime, students flocked to the first year course in political economy. Half the students doing first year economics chose political economy instead. With the many restraints on choice (eg all business and accountancy students are advised to take orthodox economics) this is a major victory. It shows clearly the interest of many economics students in wider issues such as the social problems stemming from production. Round four on points to political economy.