As someone who studied econ, I feel like I should take offense ;D
Degenerate, in slang more commonly degen, is more or less a term for a low-life or morally repugnant behavior. It seems to have been picked up by the stock market gambling community (which is kinda funny in this context, didn’t know that), but I recall it being a thing over a decade ago in the circles that community is enmeshed with, such as 4chan. Was used to denounce gays, masturbation, that kind of thing.
You’re trying unbearably hard to come across as smart. Try less.