Neoclassical economics as a whole is a zombie tradition resistant to refutation

Evidence

However, there is one concise explanation of this history that no PhD economist would deign to entertain, although we shall insist it be kept on the table for the duration of this book. It is the proposition that Quiggin turned out to be half-right: it is not just that a few component models found in economics are zombiefied; rather, it is the neoclassical tradition as a whole that is approximating the walking undead, and has been lurching around that way for a while. Patently, this begins to get at why no amount of heterodox brickbats (or incisive reasoning) can halt its inexorable march. — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 66

Categorization

• XREF: Extends Quiggin’s ‘zombie economics’ critique to the entire neoclassical tradition; echoes the book’s central zombie-metaphor motif. — connects to: Untestable economic theories breed intellectual intolerance and absolutism. — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free…, 409; Information-side patches to neoclassical economics remain epicycles never incorporated into the core model — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 1998; Neoclassical economists are the zombies, not the neoliberals themselves (+8 more)
• SEED: The zombie framing could anchor an essay on why heterodox critique fails to kill mainstream economics despite abundant falsifying evidence.
• DEFINE: Establishes the distinguishing feature of ‘zombie economics’: theories immune to disconfirmation, kept alive by institutional stubbornness rather than evidence.

Broader Connections

• Austerity persists as an ideology that resists empirical refutation #epitomizes (0.82) — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 613
• Stiglitz’s internal critique left neoclassical economics essentially unchanged #corroborates (0.80) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 764
• Neoclassical economics treats its own past claims as disposable bygones #expands (0.78) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 453
• Professional exclusion of heterodox economists makes neoclassical orthodoxy self-reinforcing #expands (0.75) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 824
• Neoclassical economics had no framework for deflationary crises #expands (0.72) — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 158