(Why) Are Economists Different?

Gebhard Kirchgässner

No 1396, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: After presenting some casual evidence about the difference between economists and the rest of the population, first the survey and experimental evidence which has been presented on this topic during the last 20 years is discussed. But can these results really be transferred to real world situations? To show this, examples of referenda results in Switzerland are presented where the citizens decided against recommendations of most economists. But what is so particular in economic theory that causes these different convictions? Some explanations are given with respect to positive economic theory and with respect to the normative convictions of economists. The paper concludes with possible consequences which economists might draw.

Keywords: cooperative behaviour; indoctrination; self-selection; referenda results; economic model of behaviour; commitment; fairness of the market; economists (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Related works:
Journal Article: (Why) are economists different? (2005)
Working Paper: (Why) Are Economists Different? (2004)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ces:ceswps:_1396

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