Stigler held that society needs economic science but not economists’ popular writings.

Evidence

Stigler posed a provocative question: If markets generally work, then why should this not be the case for the marketplace of ideas? And if the marketplace of ideas works, then why should the public need a Milton Friedman? Or, for that matter, a George Stigler? It was a threatening question for an economist, and Stigler knew it. He had titled one article “Do Economists Matter?” Within it, Stigler insisted that the demand of the community of scholars for science was negligible: “[T]o a scientist educated hands make more melodious applause than ignorant hands, but too often the educated hands seem to be sat upon by educated asses.” — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 146 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: George Stigler, not Friedman, was the key neoliberal theorist of the marketplace of ideas; Stigler doubted that the public’s demand for economic science was significant. — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 146; George Stigler, not Friedman, led the marketplace-of-ideas project and opposed public outreach — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 99 (+2 more)

Related

• Stigler doubted that the public’s demand for economic science was significant. (similarity 0.97)
• George Stigler, not Friedman, led the marketplace-of-ideas project and opposed public outreach (similarity 0.88)
• Stigler distinguished the economist’s scientific output from his popular advocacy. (similarity 0.88)
• George Stigler, not Friedman, was the key neoliberal theorist of the marketplace of ideas (similarity 0.87)
• Stigler held economists gain real influence only through technical work, not public advocacy (similarity 0.87)
• Stigler thought public lectures on economics were useless and politically dangerous (similarity 0.86)
• Stigler questioned the very usefulness of intellectuals in a rational world. (similarity 0.85)
• The efficient-markets logic undercuts the very need for expert economic advice. (similarity 0.84)
• Stigler saw economists as suppliers responding to buyers’ demand for ideas. (similarity 0.82)
• Stigler held that science must be governed by an elite, not democratic procedures. (similarity 0.82)
• Stigler held that science and markets work by the same organizing principles (similarity 0.81)
• George Stigler combined formal economics, pro-market politics, and intellectual self-promotion (similarity 0.81)
• Stigler sought patron influence by reshaping economics itself rather than public opinion. (similarity 0.81)
• Chicago-school economists disagreed sharply over whether popularizing economics even makes sense. (similarity 0.81)
• Stigler argued markets and intellectual inquiry share identical organizing principles. (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Stigler doubted that the public’s demand for economic science was significant. #corroborates (0.85) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 146