Economist's social responsibility (was flamewars)

[bgirard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Bernard Girard)]

John Gelles wrote :

>        We are privileged to be in their company.  We want
>        their advice and approval.  We cannot say that
>        the field of study, or the social science, or
>        the "whatever economics is", is itself the cause
>        of the tragic conditions a branch called political
>        economy addresses. Nor is classical economics or
>        econometrics the cause.  Not even "doctrinaire
>        economics", a phrase that may point to some
>        economists or to some branch of the study, the
>        cause.

and

>        Let us all be factual.  Tragic conditions exist.
>        Neither political science nor economics, as
>        professions, cause the tragedies.  If we would
>        invent or discuss cures, we have a choice of
>        forums.


Is that true? Economists write papers in magazines (dont' you read Gary
Becker in Business week?), and they use their scientific background to push
their opinions. They work as advisers to government. And when a
governement, following their advice, puts an end to minimum wages, they
are, in a way, responsible for what follows.
We cannot forget that too many economists just behave like advocates of the
rich and powerful.

Bernard Girard
<bgirard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>