This summer I had the chance to read a very interesting book Cents and Sensibility [Link] by Gary Saul Morson and Morton Schapiro. The authors make the case that the humanities, especially the study of literature, offer economists ways to understand better human behavior and emotions and thus make their models more realistic, their predictions more accurate, and their policies more effective and just.
I love this book because it makes me see things differently and reflect. In particular, I have learned that humanities can help economists to understand the role of cultural factors in shaping individuals’ character and thought. Literature can help economist to recognize the complexity of human motivations, thoughts and behavior (see for instance my previous post). Finally, humanities can provide ways to think through ethical questions, revealing the strengths and limitations of the economics perspectives.
If you are interested on this topic, I suggest you watch the book presentation:
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Marco Piovesan 