Is There a Free-Market Economist in the House? The Policy Views of American Economic Association Members

Charlotta Stern () and Daniel B. Klein ()
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Charlotta Stern: Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University, Postal: SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

No 6/2006, Working Paper Series from Swedish Institute for Social Research

Abstract: People often suppose or imply that free-market economists constitute a significant portion of all economists. We surveyed American Economic Association members and asked their views on 18 specific forms of government activism. We find that about 8 percent of AEA members can be considered supporters of free-market principles, and that less than 3 percent may be called strong supporters. The data is broken down by voting behavior (Democratic or Republican). Even the average Republican AEA member is “middle-of-the-road,” not free-market. We offer several possible explanations of the apparent difference between actual and attributed views.

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Date: 2006-04-02
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