If you’re evil you probably study economics, says science

Unsurprisingly for a field that relies on calling happiness 'utility', economics students are the most likely to display evil personality traits, new research has suggested.

Budding economists, as well as business students, scored highest on the 'Dark Triad' set of personality traits – narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism – in the study conducted by two psychologists at Aarhus University in Denmark.

'Dark' individuals are prone to manipulation, counterproductive work behaviour, and lust after power, argue Vedel and Thomsen.

The empty smile of the lusty money maker

These traits exist before starting at university, suggesting that evil people have a natural attraction to the dark arts of supply and demand.

Vedel and Thomsen's study of 487 newly enrolled students at a university in Denmark compared economics and business students with those studying law, psychology, and political science. Psychology students were found to be the least diabolical people.

Money is the root of all evil, after all.