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Article: Is there a free-market economist in the house? The policy views of American Economic Association members.(Reflections and Self-Reflections on the Economics Profession)(Author abstract)
- Article from:
- The American Journal of Economics and Sociology
- Article date:
- April 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Blackwell Publishers Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Introduction: The "Free-Market" Attribution
Political economists are in general quite suspicious of governmental intervention. They see in it inconveniences of all kinds--a diminution of individual liberty, energy, prudence, and experience, which constitute the most precious resources of any society. Hence, it often happens that they oppose this intervention.
Frederic Bastiat (1848)
IN 1848, BASTIAT'S STATEMENTS were probably true. Nowadays they are not. Here we present evidence from a survey of American Economic Association (AEA) members showing that a large majority of economists are either generally favorable to or mixed on ...