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Knut Wicksell, Gustav Cassel, Eli Heckscher, Bertil Ohlin and Gunnar Myrdal on the Role of the Economist in Public Debate

Carlson, Benny LU and Jonung, Lars LU (2006) In Econ Journal Watch 3. p.4-511
Abstract
In Swedish public debate, economists have been more influential than any other category of social scientists. We examine the views of five great Swedish economists on the role of the university economist in the public arena. What did they say about scholarly objectivity and value judgements, about political commitment and educating the people? The five economists are Knut Wicksell, Gustav Cassel, Eli Heckscher, Bertil Ohlin and Gunnar Myrdal. Representing two generations and a broad political spectrum, they were immensely productive. They founded Sweden’s tradition of media-tuned university economists strongly involved in the current social issues. More recently, however, academic economists in Sweden have shifted away from that ideal. The... (More)
In Swedish public debate, economists have been more influential than any other category of social scientists. We examine the views of five great Swedish economists on the role of the university economist in the public arena. What did they say about scholarly objectivity and value judgements, about political commitment and educating the people? The five economists are Knut Wicksell, Gustav Cassel, Eli Heckscher, Bertil Ohlin and Gunnar Myrdal. Representing two generations and a broad political spectrum, they were immensely productive. They founded Sweden’s tradition of media-tuned university economists strongly involved in the current social issues. More recently, however, academic economists in Sweden have shifted away from that ideal. The future of the old heritage hangs in doubt. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Econ Journal Watch
volume
3
pages
4 - 511
publisher
Institute of Spontaneous Order Economics
external identifiers
  • wos:000203013800009
ISSN
1933-527X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
46d7025f-4f53-4ced-8f65-b9bfd73fac42 (old id 1386001)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:07:55
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:38:57
@article{46d7025f-4f53-4ced-8f65-b9bfd73fac42,
  abstract     = {{In Swedish public debate, economists have been more influential than any other category of social scientists. We examine the views of five great Swedish economists on the role of the university economist in the public arena. What did they say about scholarly objectivity and value judgements, about political commitment and educating the people? The five economists are Knut Wicksell, Gustav Cassel, Eli Heckscher, Bertil Ohlin and Gunnar Myrdal. Representing two generations and a broad political spectrum, they were immensely productive. They founded Sweden’s tradition of media-tuned university economists strongly involved in the current social issues. More recently, however, academic economists in Sweden have shifted away from that ideal. The future of the old heritage hangs in doubt.}},
  author       = {{Carlson, Benny and Jonung, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1933-527X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{4--511}},
  publisher    = {{Institute of Spontaneous Order Economics}},
  series       = {{Econ Journal Watch}},
  title        = {{Knut Wicksell, Gustav Cassel, Eli Heckscher, Bertil Ohlin and Gunnar Myrdal on the Role of the Economist in Public Debate}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4577554/4770469.pdf}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}