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
- Looking forward to our Economics: The Profession and the Public event tomorrow & presenting our #UnderstandingEcon survey results! pic.twitter.com/Pip4tgV2Od
- Looking forward to tomorrow's discussions #understandingecon https://twitter.com/ScotEconSoc/status/860250081945059328 …
- Alvin Birdi, @economics_net Director on BBC Radio 4 this morning talking about #UnderstandingEcon
- Economics: the Profession and the Public, @economics_net event today supported by @ScotEconSoc and @RES_Office #UnderstandingEcon
- Economics: the public+the profession, London conference today @hmtreasury @EJ_RES @economics_net, #UnderstandingEcon https://economicsnetwork.ac.uk/events/professionandpublic …
- #UnderstandingEcon - survey of UK public's use of economic news & views on economists, @ING_news @economics_net: https://economicsnetwork.ac.uk/news/understanding_econ …
- Alvin Birdi, EN Director, interview on BBC Today Programme, http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08njv95#play … (19m 45s) #UnderstandingEcon
- Report by @economics_net #UnderstandingEcon: people are sceptical of economics but would like to learn more. https://economicsnetwork.ac.uk/research/understandingecon …
- How frequently, if at all, do you access news stories related to economics or the economy? #UnderstandingEcon survey @economics_net pic.twitter.com/rsFXbDtl49
- To what extent do you trust opinions of economists on issues relating to national+global economies? #UnderstandingEcon survey @economics_net pic.twitter.com/gCIrs5g1RL
- 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
- 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
- #UnderstandingEcon has begun!
- Sir Dave Ramsden now opening the "Economics: the Profession and the Public" event at HM Treasury #understandingecon
- We are here at the UK Treasury for #UnderstandingEcon @EconomyAsks @economics_net pic.twitter.com/75xQTFi6CX
- Very excited to hear from Economists about ways they can communicate better with the public! #UnderstandingEcon https://twitter.com/rethinkecon/status/860466216871358465 …
- Paul Johnson: not all the issues in recent political decisions are economic, but economic arguments have not cut through. #understandingecon
- Johnson: difficulty in conveying uncertainty. One voice versus a consensus can come across to public as 50/50 split. #understandingecon
- Johnson quotes C P Snow's "Two Cultures" on scientific illiteracy of many "educated" ppl. Economic illiteracy even worse. #understandingecon
- @PJTheEconomist Economics is now as "science" was in Snow's two cultures, the public is illiterate #UnderstandingEcon
- Johnson: "Two cultures" also describes academic economists vs government economists. V. different working environments. #understandingecon
- "Economists speak with one language if not one voice" @economics_net patron @PJTheEconomist #understandingecon
- Johnson: public perception of economics profession is of short-term macro forecasting, yet only involves tiny proportion. #understandingecon
- Johnson suggestions: more high profile public explainers of economics, centres of excellence, more economic education #understandingecon
- Only computer science and engineering more dominated by men than economics at degree level - @econonomics_net #UnderstandingEcon
- Johnson highlights gender bias in studying of economics at A level & degree level: greater than almost any other subject. #understandingecon
- Johnson: many times more money spent researching hadrons than free trade, yet more important to most to understand latter #understandingecon
- Question: would greater diversity of economics perspectives avoid predictive failure? Johnson: already a lot of diversity #understandingecon
- Economics Network director Alvin Birdi presents results of EN/ING survey of perceptions of economics & economists #understandingecon
- Even 61% of people who have not studied economics say government should listen to economists! #UnderstandingEcon
- Birdi: survey very positive that economics should be taught in school and economists listened to. #UnderstandingEcon
- The public perception of economists is generally as economic forecaster #UnderstandingEcon
- Birdi: when given options for learning economic concepts, public respond most positively to video clips/podcasts #UnderstandingEcon
- Birdi: asked to name a high profile economist, public mention journalists much more than academics. #UnderstandingEcon
- Most widely recognised "economist" by the public is Martin Lewis #UnderstandingEcon
- Interesting data on public understanding of econ. Self-reported? If not, what are the 'correct' answers? #UnderstandingEcon @rethinkecon pic.twitter.com/ckiKQTL23A
- Marina Della Gusta now speaking on Economics and social media. She looked at more than 64000 econ tweets. #understandingecon
- We are learning that scientists use inclusive pronouns such as "we" and "our "much more than economists. #understandingecon
- Economists score badly on social media #UnderstandingEcon Marina Della Giusta @economics_net @ING_Economics pic.twitter.com/TJfXV4C77F
- Economists are rubbish tweeters, suggests @mardelgiu Is *this* message further evidence? #UnderstandingEcon @economics_net
- Economists are a bit arrogant, and need more personal communication through twitter #UnderstandingEcon
- Economists tweet too little, using too much jargon (high register language) @mardelgiu #UnderstandingEcon
- Economists tweet using complex language and exclusive pronouns more often than others #UnderstandingEcon pic.twitter.com/J0OHewFkyH
- Della Giusta: Twitter networks/mentions indicate that economists are more distant. Follow or mention her at @mardelgiu #understandingecon
- Angus Armstrong explains some research topics for the new NIESR-hosted Rebuilding Macroeconomcs centre of which he is PI. #understandingecon
- Panel on economic literacy with @diane1859, @AnneGasteen, @TimHarford, Denise Osborn. #understandingecon
- Have we moved fast enough in economics education since the financial crisis? @DianeCoyle1859 #UnderstandingEcon
- .@diane1859 calls for more economists to offer expertise to media and for more reflection on the effects of their advice. #understandingecon
- Paul Johnson and @DianeCoyle1859 both spoke of economists' social responsibility. Need to teach ethics? #understandingecon @rethinkecon
- Individuals get angry when "experts" contradict their world view -cognitive dissonance @TimHarford #UnderstandingEcon
- .@TimHarford describes 2 barriers to public understanding of economics: preconceptions and indifference to detail #understandingecon
- .@TimHarford : giving people more facts does not create agree. Preconceptions polarize interpretation of info. #understandingecon
- Maybe economists should encourage curiosity rather than trying to inform - Rosling could be our benchmark @TimHarford #understandingecon
- Economics needs to spark curiousity in the world around us. @TimHarford #UnderstandingEcon @economics_net @ING_Economics
- .@TimHarford Great communicators like Rosling or Attenborough convey not just facts but enthusiasm & curiosity. #UnderstandingEcon
- Osborn: Royal Economic Society could be more engaged in public debate & policy debate. Many suggestions for how. #understandingecon
- Well done #UnderstandingEcon @hmtreasury for stimulating debate on public economics literacy. Other social sciences should follow your lead
- .@AnneGasteen reports on decline of opportunities for formal study of economics in Scotland, especially public education. #understandingecon
- Only 900 students are studying for highers in economics in Scotland; compares with 9500 in business management! #understandingecon
- Economics is in danger to be the preserve of the privileged in Scotland @AnneGasteen #understandingecon
- .@AnneGasteen : economics in Scotland has social inclusion problem. Only available in old & ancient universities #understandingecon
- Econ degrees in Scotland confined to pre-1992 universities;schools largely to independents.Issue of elitism @AnneGasteen #UnderstandingEcon
- .@AnneGasteen Economics courses are not returning to Scottish schools. Instead promote economic literacy across subjects #understandingecon
- From audience: economics A level has harmed economic literacy in past, but curriculum has improved. #understandingecon
- .@diane1859 mentions games including SimCity as ways to introduce young people to economic thinking. #understandingecon
- Audience: role for teachers of economics to encourage their students to spread curiosity about economics to their peers. #understandingecon
- The Citzens Economic Council by @theRSAorg helps spark curiousity in economics. #UnderstandingEcon Audience comment
- Brian Cox is great, but will he get in the REF? Incentives to become public intellectuals still very small #UnderstandingEcon
- Audience: economics is hard: quantitative, complex & requires numeracy. But doesn't mean public can't discuss it. #understandingecon
- Audience: students not aware of lack of knowledge; think they are already financially literate. Need incentive to learn #understandingecon
- Positive mentions for Speakers for Schools as a way for experts to plant the spark of economic curiosity in young people. #understandingecon
- Great afternoon with @economics_net Lots of call for economics education in schools. Thinking about show for years 7&8. #understandingEcon
- Economics needs to spark curiousity in the world around us. @TimHarford #UnderstandingEcon
- Delighted to discover kindred spirits at #UnderstandingEcon conference - #EconComm not one project, but long-term innovation of discipline!
- 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 …
- Rachel Griffith introduces afternoon panel on economists & media, w @bbckamal @nickmacpherson2 @sjwrenlewis Jagjit Chadha #understandingecon
- Macpherson: govt economists have a responsibility to be lucid and to consider how ordinary people talk about economics #understandingecon
- Most government economists will be low profile but @ONS has a true mission to explain, according to @nickmacpherson2 #understandingecon
- How do we get across ideas like counterfactuals and error distributions via media? asks @NIESRorg directorJagjit Chada #UnderstandingEcon
- Chadha: econ'ic forecasting involves range of error, counterfactuals, unknowables: all hard to describe in popular media. #understandingecon
- Getting across counter factuals is difficult but needs to be done. #UnderstandingEcon Jagit Chadha
- #JagjitChadha at #UnderstandingEcon : we need to explain economic analysis to help public understating
- #jagjitchadha at #UnderstandingEcon: we must also train the media to question non-experts much harder: they get away with too much
- .@sjwrenlewis at #UnderstandingEcon: we can't reach ppl through blogs, even successful ones- we need to do so via the media
- Blogs are not the way to reach the people we need to reach. Must do it through the media. #UnderstandingEcon @sjwrenlewis
- Wren-Lewis: scholarly societies such as RES have a crucial role in identifying & disseminating academic consensus. #understandingecon
- The challenges for the media says @bbckamal is you get 1m45s of airtime to explain a complex issue to 9 million people. #UnderstandingEcon
- @NIESRorg by 'media' you mean partisan press, internet committed or just regulated broadcasters? #UnderstandingEcon
- Ahmed: politiisedl debate, and the narrow info bandwidth of broadcast media, remove nuance, turn "could" into "will". #understandingecon
- A problem in BREXIT debate was conditional forecasts were transferred to statements. Could was turned to will. @bbckamal #UnderstandingEcon
- We need to move away from describing the economy as like a household budget. @bbckamal #UnderstandingEcon
- .@bbckamal : overuse of simple metaphors harms economic understanding. National finances are not like household budget. #understandingecon
- In 60s there was far more engagement between academics and government economists, says @nickmacpherson2 #understandingEcon
- Glad to hear from @bbckamal 'We challenge ourselves on these issues every single day.' Please work with us! #UnderstandingEcon
- Consensus approach to evaluating forecasts fine but problematic if models based on common bad assumptions #UnderstandingEcon @rethinkecon
- Awesome 2 hear today! 'Where is the scope of econ and boundaries? If we engaged with this we would engage people more'#UnderstandingEcon
- OBR probably should start assessing and costing all parties' election manifestos, says @nickmacpherson2 #understandingEcon
- @OBR_UK as authoritative source should cost election promises says @nickmapherson2 #UnderstandingEcon
- 'My kids have not had one moment of economics in their 15 years of schooling' @PJTheEconomist #UnderstandingEcon
- Macpherson commends OBR & Robert Chote for communicating economics well & suggests a stronger role in costing manifestos. #understandingecon
- There's an interesting UK conference on "Economics: the Profession and the Public" right now. Follow #UnderstandingEcon pic.twitter.com/fH94nBmPFC
- Get OBR involved in costing party election manifestos. They do it in Holland. @nickmacpherson2 #UnderstandingEcon
- 'We need to be speaking in a language that people understand. We need a Brian Cox of econ!' @PJTheEconomist @ProfBrianCox #UnderstandingEcon
- Chadha: academic incentives discourage engaging with popular media. Economists need to cultivate contact with journalists #understandingecon
- 'More than just clear explanations, we need mystery... to give a sense of wonder, to spark a curiosity' @TimHarford #UnderstandingEcon
- Journalists should challenge politicians using bad economics (maxing the national credit card etc) says @sjwrenlewis #UnderstandingEcon
- Suggestion for getting the public interested in the economic debate... can we get rid of the word economics/economist #UnderstandingEcon
- Journalists should challenge when politicians use "bad" economics- paraphrasing @sjwrenlewis #UnderstandingEcon
- Wren-Lewis: journalists should be more bold in challenging politicians' inadequate/ misleading economic metaphors. #understandingecon
- It is interesting hearing people talk about better comms from people who don't read papers or listen to news. @bbckamal #UnderstandingEcon
- Ahmed: BBC is increasingly using longer, more discursive formats to explain economics, not just brief items in 10pm news. #understandingecon
- 'There's an enormous appetite for learning more' Alvin Birdie at today's #UnderstandingEcon conference
- '3/4 of the UK public want economic education in schools' - so good to hear today! That's what we're campaigning for :) #UnderstandingEcon
- We need to test ourselves constantly the vocabulary we use. Keep the language simple. @bbckamal #UnderstandingEcon
- Andy Ross, summing up w pleas for clarity, quotes Nicholas Stern: to persuade people, they first have to understand you. #understandingecon
- Thanks to everyone who came to #understandingecon today. Please continue to share reactions, ideas & other thoughts on the hashtag!
- Follow #UnderstandingEcon for 'Economics: the Profession and the Public' and the public understanding of economics ' https://economicsnetwork.ac.uk/events/professionandpublic …
- 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?
- @economics_net event: talks on literacy and on journalism, but all wanting lay to listen, experts must learn how to listen too
- A real issue in the profession, needs to be addressed #UnderstandingEcon https://twitter.com/tiagomata/status/860521221276004353 …
