I am aware that as compared to other social sciences like sociology (where all its founders had heavy disagreements with one another), economics enjoys a wide consensus. However, it seems that even among mainstream economists there are still disagreements to be had or else why would they vote for different parties (for this purpose assume that both parties have similar to identical social policy)? As such, I ask does ideology still affect the basic underpinnings of economic theories and studies, the policy advice given to governments as it did back then? If it does, is it to a larger extent or a smaller extent?
To what extent does ideology affect economics as a field?
byu/batfsdfgdgv inAskEconomics
Posted by batfsdfgdgv
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> I am aware that as compared to other social sciences like sociology (where all its founders had heavy disagreements with one another), economics enjoys a wide consensus
I’m not aware of what consensus sociology enjoys, but there were certainly lots of conflicts amongst economists 50, 75, 100, years ago, so in that sense, it wouldn’t be particularly different from sociology. There tends to be more consensus amongst *current* economists, but that will reflect that there is a lot more evidence than there used to be.
> However, it seems that even among mainstream economists there are still disagreements to be had or else why would they vote for different parties
In general, American economists (PhD holding) vote democrat.
– https://climate-science.press/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/012129_2018_Article_9700.pdf
> (for this purpose assume that both parties have similar to identical social policy)?
This seems like a very big thing that you cannot wave away.
More broadly, it’s possible (likely!) to agree on the facts and disagree on the conclusions / optimal policy. Since most policies involve tradeoffs, it’s possible for people to disagree on the tradeoffs.
But on a basic paper by paper standpoint, most papers are not particularly ideological, and to the extent that they are, it’ll be idiosyncratic academic pet issues, petty beefs, etc.