Re: Mainstream Economists Are Ignorant And Arrogant

In article <1118349051.565701.34970@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"Lantern" <gchand4059@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> Zerge wrote:

>> I'd like to expand the question. What does "mainstream", in
>> general, mean?

> I think terming someone "mainstream" is a very high compliment.

I did not invent the term "mainstream economist". You cannot tell
whether it is or is not "a very high compliment" until you have
some grasp of what the term means. I think of the term as
descriptive, myself.

As I pointed out before, the distinction between mainstream
economists and non-mainstream economists is not between those
with PhDs in economics and those without.

> Their words are listed to.

The distinction between mainstream economists and non-mainstream
economists is not between those who are listened to (by whom?)
and those who are not listened to.

Most mainstream economists are probably not influential among
policy makers. After all, policy makers probably only listen
to a few people anyways.

Consider the list that John Weatherby has "never heard of", "with
the exception of Joan Robinson", in this confession of ignorance:

<http://www.dreamscape.com/rvien/Fumbles/NeverHeardOfAny.html>

These are non-mainstream economists, in the current conception of
economics among many North American academics. Yet most are among
the greatest of 20th century economists. And some were listened
to by policy makers, the general public, and even economists of
their day.

I have heard some point out the fact that Joan Robinson and John
Kenneth Galbraith have never received a "Nobel" in economics says
more about the prize than about them. That would also go for Michal
Kalecki, even if he did die only a couple of years after the prize
was begun.

> Not many people can claim to be mainstream.

Not so among academic economists.

> I was a key player in my field when working, but not that I would claim
> mainstream. I don't think any mainstream economist would even consider
> posting to a newsgroup.

I think well-known people have posted to newsgroups. For example, John
McCarthy, the inventor of LISP, has a long posting history. Nowadays,
many would probably post to a blog instead. Some of the most stupid,
among prolific posters to sci.econ, now infest blog comment sections,
as well as having their own blogs.

> Maybe Hummel and Hodges are the closest to
> mainstreamer on this newsgroup Dr. Flaherty, used to participate...he
> was mainstream.

I don't recognize Hodges. Hummel, like me, is not an economist. I don't
think of him as promoting mainstream economics, and I think he would
agree.

Flaherty illustrates the socialization of mainstream economists that
I've mentioned.

--
Mostly economics: <http://www.dreamscape.com/rvien/#PublicationsForFun>
r c
v s a Whether strength of body or of mind, or wisdom, or
i m p virtue, are found in proportion to the power or wealth
e a e of a man is a question fit perhaps to be discussed by
n e . slaves in the hearing of their masters, but highly
@ r c m unbecoming to reasonable and free men in search of
d o the truth. -- Rousseau
.

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