I'm an economist by training (PhD) and by trade. The claims in the article are astute. Economics is a "social science" that often tries to answer the "why" people do things by postulating on the "what" they do (Weak/Strong Axioms of Revealed Preference). There is certainly a generation of economists who focused on theory, formalization, microeconomics foundations to macroeconomics, and general equilibrium theory that required heavy mathematics to succeed--resulting in survival bias towards formalization on systems involving choices. The questions of formulations of preferences (preferences drive the underlying utility theory) or moving outside the consumer context are taboo. Since taboo, they support a religious overtone.
Of course, people relying on economists have often quipped they wished they could find a one handed economist ("on the other hand...")
Of course, people relying on economists have often quipped they wished they could find a one handed economist ("on the other hand...")
Thanks for the great article.