The Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Economics

We design two comprehensive surveys on the use of Generative AI (Gen AI) by both economics instructors and their students. Surveys are completed at the start and end of the 2025 Spring semester. The purpose of these surveys is to test several hypotheses about the increased usage of Gen AI both inside and outside the classroom. Specifically, whether instructors’ attitudes and use of Gen AI tools impact student adoption, or if increased student use alters faculty attitudes towards these tools. We also study the impact of institutional and classroom policies on student use of Gen AI tools, as well as the effect of course level and assessment type. Further, our survey results provide a snapshot of which Gen AI programs are most common and how they are used. Based on the observational study, we expect to formulate a variety of classroom interventions allowing for effective integration of Gen AI for teaching and learning economics. Some of them may show potential in furthering the research agenda on the applications of Gen AI in both economics education and beyond.