Economics, Shmeconomics (was RE: IP Protection ...)

[Clay Shirky]

> People by and large tend to act rationally.  However we don't know the
> real limits of this rationality, and we don't know in what contexts the
> "by and large" part allows us to predict behavior of an individual or of a
> market.  Economists have, on the whole, treated the subject in a
> tautological manner. 

This is just a re-statement of the same sweeping generalization. You
have offered no evidence that economists "on the whole" have treated
the subject tautologically, and up til this post, you didn't even use
that qualifier. You have instead merely offered a litany of whatever
the professional equivalent of ad hominem attacks are.

By using vague terms like 'on the whole' you are doing nothing more
than seeking to deny any possible countervailing evidence, because you
can always say "Oh yes, sure, there are of course those economists
doing serious work with field experimentation and psychology, but I am
discounting their contributions to zero in order to defend my thesis."

Armed thusly, your position has become "All economists are so stupid
or arrogant as to confuse their simple models with reality, except for
the ones who don't", which I can hardly disagree with, as that's my
position as well.

> Economists who insist on doing this everywhere are the ones that
> bother me.  Do you deny that they exist, Clay?  Or do you just deny
> that they are the majority?

Neither. I deny that you have made any claim about them that can be
countered. Suggesting that 'the majority' of economists does something
covers a lot of ground -- 51-99%, in fact. 

Do you mean to say that only 20% of economists are doing interesting
work? I'd point to computer science and ask if you thought the numbers
were so different.  Do you mean to say 99% of economists behave
thusly? Then I'll keep dragging out mainstream pieces from places like
the NYT that demonstrate significant mainstream interest in the areas
of inquiry you deny are being seriously pursued. Do you mean to say
that every economist you have seen on CNN has gotten your undies in a
wedge? I wonder what profession could survive such a comparison?

-clay