Do good economists need to be right wing?

[ag]

Anyone, who confuses ideology and economics is not a good economist. As citizens we have views on how we would like the society be.  As economists we have views on what would be consequences of such or other policies. And confusing the two is not a good thing.

Now, it would be hard to find an good economist who does not much like free trade, for instance. Or would advocate price controls on most goods. Not because of the "left", or "right", but because there are very few circumstances out there where sane objectives cold be achieved by such policies. Markets have many attractive features - even if you are an convinced socialist.

[ag]

Part of this is because to my understanding, intro economics classes tend toward right-wing conclusions (like minimum wage & rent control are bad) whereas higher-level economics courses take a lot more variables into consideration.

Rent controls ARE, usually, bad, even if you are a left-winger

[ag]

but why would we gamble with societal utility

Are you a Communist, or what?

[ag]

but why would we gamble with societal utility

Are you a Communist, or what?

Aren't most economists utilitarians?

No.

[ag]

I'm curious why you made that a "We economists" statement,

You do not need a licence to be one. I guess, he thinks he is.

[ag]

I'm curious why you made that a "We economists" statement,

You do not need a licence to be one. I guess, he thinks he is.

Generally, some type of econ graduate degree is a prerequisite for an "economist" job title.

"Daddy, who is Karl Marx?"
"An economist."
"Like auntie Sarah?"
"No, auntie Sarah is a senior economist".

[ag]

I'm curious why you made that a "We economists" statement, but if you were one your instinct should have associated ag's comment to a social choice problem. (Not that his response wasn't a painfully theorist one)

Is communism a legitimate economic discipline?

Neither is Libertarianism. Or Romanticism. Or Judaism.

[ag]

I'm curious why you made that a "We economists" statement, but if you were one your instinct should have associated ag's comment to a social choice problem. (Not that his response wasn't a painfully theorist one)

Is communism a legitimate economic discipline? The answer is "no", and that's why I responded with moral theory, instead.

I'm not a teacher so I have no interest in humoring theories that have virtually no merit.

I'm not communist by any means, but to say it isn't a legitimate economic discipline is both ridiculous and inane.

"Communism" is an ideology. Hence, by definition, it is not a "discipline".

[ag]

I'm curious why you made that a "We economists" statement,

You do not need a licence to be one. I guess, he thinks he is.

Generally, some type of econ graduate degree is a prerequisite for an "economist" job title.

"Daddy, who is Karl Marx?"
"An economist."
"Like auntie Sarah?"
"No, auntie Sarah is a senior economist".

lol. Perhaps I should have specified that I meant within the past few decades and wrt AggregateDemand. I was lazy with specifying my assumptions.

Well, no harm in someone appropriating this particular title. Not that we have it regulated   Not that anybody would mistake him for a colleague