Download or read book What Do Economists Contribute? written by Daniel B. Klein and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-07-27 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The title of this book raises a provocative question that should make all economists think. What is our raison d'etre ? Only a few economists have specifically addressed the issue. Several of the more challenging efforts are included here. Do economists have much influence on government policy, particularly over, say, five or ten years? Is that because they don't try hard enough or is it because politicians care more about the next election than about the opinion of economists? In this splendid collection, some published as long ago as the 1930s, nine great economists consider these questions. The editor's illuminating introduction sorts out the area of agreement and disagreement between them.