How Economists Cause Harm Even as They Aspire to Do Good (with George DeMartino)
Pitchfork Economics with Nick HanauerShow Notes
For more than a century, economists have told us they’re simply “describing the world as it is.” But what if their theories aren’t neutral — and are quietly doing enormous harm?
This week, we’re joined by economist George DeMartino, author of The Tragic Science, who makes a devastating case that modern economics has helped legitimize policies that shattered communities, fueled inequality, and even cost millions of lives — all while claiming scientific objectivity. DeMartino exposes how orthodox economics trained itself to dismiss real suffering as abstract and acceptable — as long as the aggregate numbers looked good.
If you’ve ever wondered why economic “expertise” keeps failing working people, this conversation connects the dots.
George DeMartino is a Professor of Economics at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. He is the author of The Tragic Science: How Economists Cause Harm (Even as They Aspire to Do Good) and The Economist’s Oath. His work examines the moral obligations of economists, the profession’s history of harm—including what he calls econogenic harm—and the need for a new ethics grounded in humility, uncertainty, and democratic accountability.
Further reading:
The Tragic Science: How Economists Cause Harm (Even as They Aspire to Do Good)
The Economist’s Oath: On the Need for and Content of Professional Economic Ethics
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