The Superiority of Economists

Marion Fourcade, Etienne Ollion () and Yann Algan
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Marion Fourcade: UC Berkeley - University of California [Berkeley] - UC - University of California
Etienne Ollion: UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg, SAGE - Sociétés, Acteurs, Gouvernement en Europe - UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: In this essay, we analyze the dominant position of economics within the network of the social sciences in the United States. We begin by documenting the relative insularity of economics, using bibliometric data. Next we analyze the tight management of the field from the top down, which gives economics its characteristic hierarchical structure. Economists also distinguish themselves from other social scientists through their much better material situation (many teach in business schools, have external consulting activities), their more individualist worldviews, and their confidence in their discipline's ability to fix the world's problems. Taken together, these traits constitute what we call the superiority of economists, where economists' objective supremacy is intimately linked with their subjective sense of authority and entitlement. While this superiority has certainly fueled economists' practical involvement and their considerable influence over the economy, it has also exposed them more to conflicts of interests, political critique, even derision.

Keywords: Economist; Social science network; Field supremacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-10
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-03392966v1
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

Published in Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2015, 29 (1), pp.89 - 113. ⟨10.1257/jep.29.1.89⟩

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Superiority of Economists (2015)
Journal Article: The Superiority of Economists (2015)
Working Paper: The Superiority of Economists (2015)
Working Paper: The superiority of economists (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:spmain:hal-03392966

DOI: 10.1257/jep.29.1.89

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