Both neoclassical and Marxian economics have proven poor antidotes to the free-market muddle

Evidence

Appeals to “free markets” treat both freedom and markets as undefined primitives, largely by collapsing them one into another. It takes substantial theoretical sophistication to keep this fact front and center in the political disputes of the modern era; both neoclassical and Marxian economics have not proven salutary in this regard. This book aims to remind us that economics turns out to be good to forget with; one prophylactic will be recourse to a different approach to economics, one that is antithetical to core neoliberal tenets at its ontological base. — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 48

Categorization

• FICTION: The phrase ‘economics is good to forget with’ is evocative and could seed a story about institutional amnesia.
• XREF: connects to: Marx overemphasized economics while neglecting power and technical detail — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 2847; Subordinating politics to markets failed to produce either freedom or equality — Jessica Whyte, The Morals of the Market: Human Rights…, 457; Economic ideas can blind policymakers to the flaws of their institutional designs — Mark Blyth, Austerity: The History of a Dangerous…, 252 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Marx overemphasized economics while neglecting power and technical detail #corroborates (0.80) — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 2847
• Stiglitz’s internal critique left neoclassical economics essentially unchanged #corroborates (0.80) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 764
• Economic ideas can blind policymakers to the flaws of their institutional designs #corroborates (0.78) — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 252
• Subordinating politics to markets failed to produce either freedom or equality #qualifies (0.72) — Jessica Whyte, The Morals of the Market, 457
• Habermas overstates late capitalism’s success in overcoming Marxian contradictions #corroborates (0.72) — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism, 444