Opinion

Economists have lost their power. Here’s how to fix it

Economists can be a necessary “pain in the arse” in public debates. But policymakers have stopped listening, and the influence of the profession now depends on providing practical advice with clarity and humility.

Danielle WoodEconomist

Sep 12, 2024 – 10.25am

Email LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

Economic advice is increasingly contested: the profession is at a lower ebb in esteem in policymaking and broader circles.

Partly this reflects fair questions about our blind spots, and partly a preference to avoid some of the inconvenient truths that economic frameworks can deliver.

Danielle Wood is the chairwoman of the Productivity Commission.