What Do Economists Contribute? - Hardcover

Klein, Daniel B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0333739620 ISBN 13: 9780333739624

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 1999

Synopsis

The title of this book raises a provocative question that should make all economists think. What is our raison d'etre ? Only a few economists have specifically addressed the issue. Several of the more challenging efforts are included here. Do economists have much influence on government policy, particularly over, say, five or ten years? Is that because they don't try hard enough or is it because politicians care more about the next election than about the opinion of economists? In this splendid collection, some published as long ago as the 1930s, nine great economists consider these questions. The editor's illuminating introduction sorts out the area of agreement and disagreement between them.

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From the Publisher

Praise for WHAT DO ECONOMISTS CONTRIBUTE?

"Do economists have much influence on government policy, particularl y over, say, 5 or 10 years? Probably not. Is that because they don't try hard enough or is it because politicians care more about the next election than about the opinion of economists? In this splendid collection, some published as long ago as the 1930s, nine great economists consider these questions. The editor's illuminating introduction sorts out the area of agreement and disagreement between them." -Mark Blaug, University of Exeter

"This book raises provocative questions that should make all economists think. What is our raison d'etre? Daniel Klein brings together several of the best efforts from those economists who have addressed this fundamental issue." -James M. Buchanan, George Mason University

Economists direct their research mainly to the technical questions. The editor's illuminating introduction sorts out the area of agreement and disagreement between them." -Mark Blaug, University of Exeter

"This book raises provocative questions that should make all economists think. What is our raison d'etre? Daniel Klein brings together several of the best efforts from those economists who have addressed this fundamental issue." -James M. Buchanan, George Mason University

Economists direct their research mainly to the technical frontiers of the discipline. But the actual decisions of political economy are made not by experts but by ordinary public officials and voters-the "Everyman." The Everyman is innocent of basic economics, and needs edification in the basics. The task of educating the Everyman is neglected, sometimes even denigrated, by academic economists. Academic rewards go to those at the frontier, even though their refinements are often of minor relevance to public issues. Daniel B. Klein has here gathered essays of nine great economists of this century-Friedrich Hayek, Ronald Coase, Thomas Schelling, Gordon Tullock, Israel Kirzner, Frank Graham, William Hutt, Clarence Philbrook, and D. McCloskey-addressing the existential issue for economists: "How do we contribute to human betterment?"

The authors express their esteem for economic research firmly rooted in public issues and that contributes to public discourse. Some suggest that the academic focus on technical refinement not only diverts economists from efforts at public edification, but might even mislead economists in their own understanding of economic affairs.

DANIEL B. KLEIN is Associate Professor of Economics at Santa Clara State University. His books include Curb Rights: A Foundation for Free Enterprise in Urban Transit, authored with A. Moore and B. Reja.

About the Author

RONALD H. COASE Nobel Prize in Economic Science, 1991 FRANK D. GRAHAM (1890-1949) Professor of Economics at Princeton University until his death in 1949 FRIEDRICH A. HAYEK (1899-1992) Nobel Prize in Economic Science, 1974. Professor at LSE, 1931-49. Author of The Road to Serfdom WILLIAM H. HUTT (b.1899) Professor of Economics at Capetown University and Texas, A & M. Author of Economists and the Public ISRAEL M. KIRZNER (b.1930) Professor of Economics at New York University since 1957 DEIRDRE N. MCCLOSKEY (b.1942) Professor of Economics and of History at the University of Iowa CLARENCE PHILBROOK (1909-78) was Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina (1947-1975) THOMAS C. SCHELLING (b.1921) Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland and previously at Harvard GORDON TULLOCK Professor of Economics at the University of Arizona; editor of Public Choice for 25 years

Edition details

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0333739620
• ISBN 13: 9780333739624
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 172