Economics: the Profession and the Public

An Economics Network event hosted at HM Treasury, and made possible by the Network's sponsors and partners, including the Royal Economic Society, the Scottish Economic Society, the GES, and the University of Bristol

  1. Looking forward to our Economics: The Profession and the Public event tomorrow & presenting our #UnderstandingEcon survey results! https://t.co/Pip4tgV2Od
    Looking forward to our Economics: The Profession and the Public event tomorrow & presenting our #UnderstandingEcon survey results! pic.twitter.com/Pip4tgV2Od
  2. Alvin Birdi, @economics_net Director on BBC Radio 4 this morning talking about #UnderstandingEcon
  3. How frequently, if at all, do you access news stories related to economics or the economy? #UnderstandingEcon survey @economics_net https://t.co/rsFXbDtl49
    How frequently, if at all, do you access news stories related to economics or the economy? #UnderstandingEcon survey @economics_net pic.twitter.com/rsFXbDtl49
  4. To what extent do you trust opinions of economists on issues relating to national+global economies? #UnderstandingEcon survey @economics_net https://t.co/gCIrs5g1RL
    To what extent do you trust opinions of economists on issues relating to national+global economies? #UnderstandingEcon survey @economics_net pic.twitter.com/gCIrs5g1RL
  5. Almost 1/3 of public think economics is male-based discipline! Work needed to encourage more women to study economics #UnderstandingEcon https://t.co/vc8PweLq72
    Almost 1/3 of public think economics is male-based discipline! Work needed to encourage more women to study economics #UnderstandingEcon pic.twitter.com/vc8PweLq72
  6. How well do you understand economic impact of #Brexit, fall in exchange rate or govt spending cuts? #UnderstandingEcon survey @economics_net https://t.co/IoF6Tks5Xj
    How well do you understand economic impact of #Brexit, fall in exchange rate or govt spending cuts? #UnderstandingEcon survey @economics_net pic.twitter.com/IoF6Tks5Xj
  7. Sir Dave Ramsden now opening the "Economics: the Profession and the Public" event at HM Treasury #understandingecon
  8. Very excited to hear from Economists about ways they can communicate better with the public! #UnderstandingEcon  https://twitter.com/rethinkecon/status/860466216871358465 
  9. Paul Johnson: not all the issues in recent political decisions are economic, but economic arguments have not cut through. #understandingecon
  10. Johnson: difficulty in conveying uncertainty. One voice versus a consensus can come across to public as 50/50 split. #understandingecon
  11. Johnson quotes C P Snow's "Two Cultures" on scientific illiteracy of many "educated" ppl. Economic illiteracy even worse. #understandingecon
  12. @PJTheEconomist Economics is now as "science" was in Snow's two cultures, the public is illiterate #UnderstandingEcon
  13. Johnson: "Two cultures" also describes academic economists vs government economists. V. different working environments. #understandingecon
  14. Johnson: public perception of economics profession is of short-term macro forecasting, yet only involves tiny proportion. #understandingecon
  15. Johnson suggestions: more high profile public explainers of economics, centres of excellence, more economic education #understandingecon
  16. Only computer science and engineering more dominated by men than economics at degree level - @econonomics_net #UnderstandingEcon
  17. Johnson highlights gender bias in studying of economics at A level & degree level: greater than almost any other subject. #understandingecon
  18. Johnson: many times more money spent researching hadrons than free trade, yet more important to most to understand latter #understandingecon
  19. Question: would greater diversity of economics perspectives avoid predictive failure? Johnson: already a lot of diversity #understandingecon
  20. Economics Network director Alvin Birdi presents results of EN/ING survey of perceptions of economics & economists #understandingecon
  21. Even 61% of people who have not studied economics say government should listen to economists! #UnderstandingEcon
  22. Birdi: survey very positive that economics should be taught in school and economists listened to. #UnderstandingEcon
  23. The public perception of economists is generally as economic forecaster #UnderstandingEcon
  24. Birdi: when given options for learning economic concepts, public respond most positively to video clips/podcasts #UnderstandingEcon
  25. Birdi: asked to name a high profile economist, public mention journalists much more than academics. #UnderstandingEcon
  26. Most widely recognised "economist" by the public is Martin Lewis #UnderstandingEcon
  27. Interesting data on public understanding of econ. Self-reported? If not, what are the 'correct' answers? #UnderstandingEcon @rethinkecon https://t.co/ckiKQTL23A
    Interesting data on public understanding of econ. Self-reported? If not, what are the 'correct' answers? #UnderstandingEcon @rethinkecon pic.twitter.com/ckiKQTL23A
  28. Marina Della Gusta now speaking on Economics and social media. She looked at more than 64000 econ tweets. #understandingecon
  29. We are learning that scientists use inclusive pronouns such as "we" and "our "much more than economists. #understandingecon
  30. Economists are rubbish tweeters, suggests @mardelgiu Is *this* message further evidence? #UnderstandingEcon @economics_net
  31. Economists are a bit arrogant, and need more personal communication through twitter #UnderstandingEcon
  32. Economists tweet too little, using too much jargon (high register language) @mardelgiu #UnderstandingEcon
  33. Economists tweet using complex language and exclusive pronouns more often than others  #UnderstandingEcon https://t.co/J0OHewFkyH
    Economists tweet using complex language and exclusive pronouns more often than others #UnderstandingEcon pic.twitter.com/J0OHewFkyH
  34. Della Giusta: Twitter networks/mentions indicate that economists are more distant. Follow or mention her at @mardelgiu #understandingecon
  35. Angus Armstrong explains some research topics for the new NIESR-hosted Rebuilding Macroeconomcs centre of which he is PI. #understandingecon
  36. Have we moved fast enough in economics education since the financial crisis? @DianeCoyle1859 #UnderstandingEcon
  37. .@diane1859 calls for more economists to offer expertise to media and for more reflection on the effects of their advice. #understandingecon
  38. Paul Johnson and @DianeCoyle1859 both spoke of economists' social responsibility. Need to teach ethics? #understandingecon @rethinkecon
  39. Individuals get angry when "experts" contradict their world view -cognitive dissonance @TimHarford #UnderstandingEcon
  40. .@TimHarford describes 2 barriers to public understanding of economics: preconceptions and indifference to detail #understandingecon
  41. .@TimHarford : giving people more facts does not create agree. Preconceptions polarize interpretation of info. #understandingecon
  42. Maybe economists should encourage curiosity rather than trying to inform - Rosling could be our benchmark @TimHarford #understandingecon
  43. .@TimHarford Great communicators like Rosling or Attenborough convey not just facts but enthusiasm & curiosity. #UnderstandingEcon
  44. Osborn: Royal Economic Society could be more engaged in public debate & policy debate. Many suggestions for how. #understandingecon
  45. Well done #UnderstandingEcon @hmtreasury for stimulating debate on public economics literacy. Other social sciences should follow your lead
  46. .@AnneGasteen reports on decline of opportunities for formal study of economics in Scotland, especially public education. #understandingecon
  47. Only 900 students are studying for highers in economics in Scotland; compares with 9500 in business management! #understandingecon
  48. Economics is in danger to be the preserve of the privileged in Scotland @AnneGasteen #understandingecon
  49. .@AnneGasteen : economics in Scotland has social inclusion problem. Only available in old & ancient universities #understandingecon
  50. Econ degrees in Scotland confined to pre-1992 universities;schools largely to independents.Issue of elitism @AnneGasteen #UnderstandingEcon
  51. .@AnneGasteen Economics courses are not returning to Scottish schools. Instead promote economic literacy across subjects #understandingecon
  52. From audience: economics A level has harmed economic literacy in past, but curriculum has improved. #understandingecon
  53. .@diane1859 mentions games including SimCity as ways to introduce young people to economic thinking. #understandingecon
  54. Audience: role for teachers of economics to encourage their students to spread curiosity about economics to their peers. #understandingecon
  55. The Citzens Economic Council by @theRSAorg helps spark curiousity in economics. #UnderstandingEcon Audience comment
  56. Brian Cox is great, but will he get in the REF? Incentives to become public intellectuals still very small #UnderstandingEcon
  57. Audience: economics is hard: quantitative, complex & requires numeracy. But doesn't mean public can't discuss it. #understandingecon
  58. Audience: students not aware of lack of knowledge; think they are already financially literate. Need incentive to learn #understandingecon
  59. Positive mentions for Speakers for Schools as a way for experts to plant the spark of economic curiosity in young people. #understandingecon
  60. Great afternoon with @economics_net Lots of call for economics education in schools. Thinking about show for years 7&8. #understandingEcon
  61. Economics needs to spark curiousity in the world around us. @TimHarford #UnderstandingEcon
  62. Delighted to discover kindred spirits at #UnderstandingEcon conference - #EconComm not one project, but long-term innovation of discipline!
  63. Our director #JagjitChadha will be on the next panel, to discuss the Academy, the Profession and the Media #UnderstandingEcon  https://twitter.com/econromesh/status/860403699360968704 
  64. Rachel Griffith introduces afternoon panel on economists & media, w @bbckamal @nickmacpherson2 @sjwrenlewis Jagjit Chadha #understandingecon
  65. Macpherson: govt economists have a responsibility to be lucid and to consider how ordinary people talk about economics #understandingecon
  66. Most government economists will be low profile but @ONS has a true mission to explain, according to @nickmacpherson2 #understandingecon
  67. How do we get across ideas like counterfactuals and error distributions via media? asks @NIESRorg directorJagjit Chada #UnderstandingEcon
  68. Chadha: econ'ic forecasting involves range of error, counterfactuals, unknowables: all hard to describe in popular media. #understandingecon
  69. Getting across counter factuals is difficult but needs to be done. #UnderstandingEcon Jagit Chadha
  70. #JagjitChadha at #UnderstandingEcon : we need to explain economic analysis to help public understating
  71. #jagjitchadha at #UnderstandingEcon: we must also train the media to question non-experts much harder: they get away with too much
  72. .@sjwrenlewis at #UnderstandingEcon: we can't reach ppl through blogs, even successful ones- we need to do so via the media
  73. Blogs are not the way to reach the people we need to reach. Must do it through the media. #UnderstandingEcon @sjwrenlewis
  74. Wren-Lewis: scholarly societies such as RES have a crucial role in identifying & disseminating academic consensus. #understandingecon
  75. The challenges for the media says @bbckamal is you get 1m45s of airtime to explain a complex issue to 9 million people. #UnderstandingEcon
  76. @NIESRorg by 'media' you mean partisan press, internet committed or just regulated broadcasters? #UnderstandingEcon
  77. Ahmed: politiisedl debate, and the narrow info bandwidth of broadcast media, remove nuance, turn "could" into "will". #understandingecon
  78. A problem in BREXIT debate was conditional forecasts were transferred to statements. Could was turned to will. @bbckamal #UnderstandingEcon
  79. We need to move away from describing the economy as like a household budget. @bbckamal #UnderstandingEcon
  80. .@bbckamal : overuse of simple metaphors harms economic understanding. National finances are not like household budget. #understandingecon
  81. In 60s there was far more engagement between academics and government economists, says @nickmacpherson2 #understandingEcon
  82. Glad to hear from @bbckamal 'We challenge ourselves on these issues every single day.' Please work with us! #UnderstandingEcon
  83. Consensus approach to evaluating forecasts fine but problematic if models based on common bad assumptions #UnderstandingEcon @rethinkecon
  84. Awesome 2 hear today! 'Where is the scope of econ and boundaries? If we engaged with this we would engage people more'#UnderstandingEcon
  85. OBR probably should start assessing and costing all parties' election manifestos, says @nickmacpherson2 #understandingEcon
  86. @OBR_UK as authoritative source should cost election promises says @nickmapherson2 #UnderstandingEcon
  87. 'My kids have not had one moment of economics in their 15 years of schooling' @PJTheEconomist #UnderstandingEcon
  88. Macpherson commends OBR & Robert Chote for communicating economics well & suggests a stronger role in costing manifestos. #understandingecon
  89. There's an interesting UK conference on "Economics: the Profession and the Public" right now. Follow #UnderstandingEcon https://t.co/fH94nBmPFC
    There's an interesting UK conference on "Economics: the Profession and the Public" right now. Follow #UnderstandingEcon pic.twitter.com/fH94nBmPFC
  90. Get OBR involved in costing party election manifestos. They do it in Holland. @nickmacpherson2 #UnderstandingEcon
  91. 'We need to be speaking in a language that people understand. We need a Brian Cox of econ!' @PJTheEconomist @ProfBrianCox #UnderstandingEcon
  92. Chadha: academic incentives discourage engaging with popular media. Economists need to cultivate contact with journalists #understandingecon
  93. 'More than just clear explanations, we need mystery... to give a sense of wonder, to spark a curiosity' @TimHarford #UnderstandingEcon
  94. Journalists should challenge politicians using bad economics (maxing the national credit card etc) says @sjwrenlewis #UnderstandingEcon
  95. Suggestion for getting the public interested in the economic debate... can we get rid of the word economics/economist #UnderstandingEcon
  96. Journalists should challenge when politicians use "bad" economics- paraphrasing @sjwrenlewis #UnderstandingEcon
  97. Wren-Lewis: journalists should be more bold in challenging politicians' inadequate/ misleading economic metaphors. #understandingecon
  98. It is interesting hearing people talk about better comms from people who don't read papers or listen to news. @bbckamal #UnderstandingEcon
  99. Ahmed: BBC is increasingly using longer, more discursive formats to explain economics, not just brief items in 10pm news. #understandingecon
  100. 'There's an enormous appetite for learning more' Alvin Birdie at today's #UnderstandingEcon conference
  101. '3/4 of the UK public want economic education in schools' - so good to hear today! That's what we're campaigning for :) #UnderstandingEcon
  102. We need to test ourselves constantly the vocabulary we use. Keep the language simple. @bbckamal #UnderstandingEcon
  103. Andy Ross, summing up w pleas for clarity, quotes Nicholas Stern: to persuade people, they first have to understand you. #understandingecon
  104. Thanks to everyone who came to #understandingecon today. Please continue to share reactions, ideas & other thoughts on the hashtag!
  105. 1. For me, two big qs about #EconComm at #UnderstandingEcon conf: 1) Do people want views from economists? 2) When they do, how do we react?
  106. @economics_net event: talks on literacy and on journalism, but all wanting lay to listen, experts must learn how to listen too