MARK THOMA IS ON TARGET ABOUT THE HABITS OF MANY ECONOMISTS/IDEOLOGISTS

Mark Thoma HERE  posts (3 November) in The Fiscal Times HERE

“Are Economists Driven by Ideology or Evidence?”

“Which is more important in determining the policy positions of economists, ideology or evidence? Is economics, as some assert, little more than a means of dressing up ideological arguments in scientific clothing?”

Comment

Mark Thoma is a regular economist whose Blog HERE I read almost every day (follow the link) and have done since 2005.

Needless to say, I welcome his post because it asks a question that is seldom asked and even fewer times answered. Among those few who do, most take it as an opportunity to justify their own ideological positions and to denigrate their opponents' ideologies.

Lost Legacy tries to avoid taking sides. Its aim is to account for the writings and ideas of Adam Smith, based on his texts and what we know of his life’s work (see Ian Ross, The Life of Adam Smith, OUP, 1978, 2nd ed 2010). Reading Mark’s post is a good place to start.