I wrote this about a month ago, but decided not to post it because
it sounded a bit like a personal rant. Following the Brexit result,
and more introspection
among economists about what more they could have done, I think this
basic point is worth making
When I complain
about the media ignoring economic ideas or economics generally, I’m
told that economists - and academics more generally - must learn
about PR. Indeed it may be my moral
responsibility to do so. When I wrote
about how other social scientists made useful criticisms of
economics, but were often ignored because it was couched in language
economists did not understand, I was told that economists should
learn that language. And when I said in my post
on Mirowski that he knew more about the history of economics and
neoliberalism than I did, Lars Syll says
I should educate myself. Note that in none of these cases am I saying
there should be no engagement from economists: all three examples
come from cases where I did attempt to engage.
In economics we do not just learn about opportunity
cost,
we also know about comparative
advantage
and the division
of
labour.
It makes sense to set up systems (in production, trade, research or
other things) where people do what they are good at, rather than just
do a bit of everything. In academia people specialise for good
reasons. To understand the macroeconomy better it really is sensible
that I spend most of my time reading macroeconomic research
rather than doing PR, reading sociology or the history of economic
thought. Note I said most, not all.
That does not mean that we all become isolated in our own little
worlds of knowledge. Indeed I think both good research and good
application often benefits from some breadth of knowledge. But I
think it beholds those of us with some knowledge to try and
communicate it in terms that are easy for outsiders to understand,
and avoid them having to read our literature. That is why I try to
avoid jargon in my blogs unless I only want to communicate with other
economists. If policymakers want macroeconomic advice I do not tell
them to go read some article or change their policies before I’ll
talk to them - I just give them advice.
To some it seems terribly arrogant if you say I do not have time to
read a new literature, or cultivate relationships with journalists,
particularly if you work in that literature or you are a journalist.
To see why it is not arrogant just turn it around: how would that
person feel if I said you had to start reading a lot of
macroeconomics literature. I never say that, but write blogs instead,
and put a considerable effort into doing so. To be told that in
addition I have to learn the arts of PR as well as reading other
literatures is not only annoying, it makes no economic sense.
