Economists Have Lost Their Influence
We need to communicate better
As someone who has dedicated their career to making economics personal and accessible to the general public, Ben Casselman's recent New York Times article struck a particularly resonant chord with me. Through my weekly newsletter and social media content on Instagram and LinkedIn, I've seen firsthand how economic concepts that seem abstract in academic discourse can become deeply meaningful when connected to people's daily lives.
Casselman's reporting from the American Economic Association's annual meeting in San Francisco captured a pivotal moment. Despite economists' expertise on critical issues, our voice in policy discussions has reached a concerning low point. I witness this disconnect regularly in my work. People do not see the relevance of economics in its current form.
His article highlights how, on fundamental issues where economists share strong consensus—free trade, immigration's economic benefits, and carbon taxation—policymakers are increasingly charting different courses. As former Obama adviser Jason Furman noted in the piece, while economists may agree on these principles among themselves, that agreement rarely extends beyond our professional circles. This is precisely why I advocate for creating accessible content across multiple platforms – most people accept economic principles; they simply haven't seen how these principles connect to their individual interests and daily decisions.
The article's insights point to a critical need for change in our approach to policy discussions. As Casselman reports, some economists recognize this as primarily a communication challenge—we need to better explain our reasoning to both policymakers and the public. Through my own work in crafting digestible economic content, I've learned that when we make economics personal, when we show how policy proposals directly impact individuals' lives, people become not just interested, but invested in economic discourse.
The evolution Casselman describes in his reporting shows our field moving away from simple, one-size-fits-all solutions. Today's economic research reveals nuanced realities that deserve equally nuanced communication. By focusing on relevance and clarity rather than getting lost in technical details, we can rebuild our influence and ensure that economic expertise meaningfully shapes policy outcomes. This is why I consistently translate complex economic concepts into bite-sized, relatable content that resonates with real-world experiences.
As we navigate this crucial moment, our success will depend not on the strength of our models alone, but on our ability to translate economic wisdom into practical solutions that address society's pressing challenges. Casselman's reporting serves as a wake-up call, one that aligns perfectly with what I've observed in my work: the time has come for economists to reclaim our seat at the policy table—not through assertion of authority, but through demonstration of relevance to people's everyday lives. This is why I remain committed to creating content that bridges the gap between economic theory and personal reality, one post, one newsletter, one story at a time
These two sections speak to me and my work.
"Some in the field see the problem mostly as one of communication — they need to do a better job of explaining, both to policymakers and the public, why their arguments make sense.”
“Economists need to do a better job about understanding the problems people care about, about being innovative in developing approaches to them and about being clear about uncertainty.”
How can we make economics more relevant and accessible to non-economists?