La Superioridad De Los Economistas (The Superiority of Economists)

Revista de Economía Institucional Vol. 17, No. 33 segundo semestre de 2015

31 Pages Posted: 16 Dec 2015

See all articles by Marion Fourcade

Marion Fourcade

University of California, Berkeley - Department of Sociology

Etienne Ollion

University of Strasbourg

Yann Algan

Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po)

Date Written: December 14, 2015

Abstract

Spanish Abstract: Este artículo examina la posición dominante de la economía en la red de ciencias sociales en Estados Unidos. Primero documenta su insularidad relativa usando datos bibliométricos y luego analiza el rígido control desde arriba que le da su estructura jerárquica característica. Los economistas también se distinguen de otros científicos sociales por su mejor situación material, su visión del mundo más individualista y su confianza en la disciplina para resolver los problemas de mundo. Estas características constituyen lo que aquí se llama la superioridad de los economistas, cuya supremacía objetiva está ligada íntimamente a la sensación subjetiva de tener autoridad y derecho a ella. Esa superioridad alienta su intervención práctica y su gran influencia en la economía, pero también los expone a conflictos de interés, a la crítica política e incluso al ridículo.

English Abstract: In this essay, we investigate the dominant position of economics within the network of the social sciences in the United States. We begin by documenting the relative insularity of economics, using bibliometric data. Next we analyze the tight management of the field from the top down, which gives economics its characteristic hierarchical structure. Economists also distinguish themselves from other social scientists through their much better material situation (many teach in business schools, have external consulting activities), their more individualist worldviews, and in the confidence they have in their discipline’s ability to fix the world’s problems. Taken together, these traits constitute what we call the superiority of economists, where economists’ objective supremacy is intimately linked with their subjective sense of authority and entitlement. While this superiority has certainly fueled economists’ practical involvement and their considerable influence over the economy, it has also exposed them more to conflicts of interests, political critique, even derision.

Note: Downloadable document is in Spanish.

Keywords: ciencias sociales, científicos sociales, razonamiento cuantitativo, social sciences, social scientists, quantitative reasoning

JEL Classification: A1, A2, I2

Suggested Citation

Fourcade, Marion and Ollion, Etienne and Algan, Yann, La Superioridad De Los Economistas (The Superiority of Economists) (December 14, 2015). Revista de Economía Institucional Vol. 17, No. 33 segundo semestre de 2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2703531

Marion Fourcade (Contact Author)

University of California, Berkeley - Department of Sociology ( email )

410 Barrows Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
United States

Etienne Ollion

University of Strasbourg ( email )

61, avenue de la foret noire
Strasbourg, Alsace 3000
France

Yann Algan

Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) ( email )

27 rue Saint-Guillaume
Paris Cedex 07, 75337
France

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