Book Reviews

Abstract

Sharon Oster of Yale School of Management reviews “The Economist's Oath: On the Need for and Content of Professional Economic Ethics” by George F. DeMartino. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Presents a case for professional economic ethics and why it is necessary. Discusses the need for professional economic ethics; economic practice--what economists do; ethical challenges confronting the applied economist; historical perspective--don't predict the interest rate; interpreting the silence--the economics case against professional economic ethics; breaking the silence--a rebuttal of the economic case against professional economic ethics; the positive case for professional economic ethics; learning from others--ethical thought across the professions; economists as social engineers--ethical evaluation of market liberalization in the South and transition economies; the global economic crisis and the crisis in economics; on sleeping too well--in search of professional economic ethics; training the “ethical economist”; and the economist's oath. DeMartino is Professor of Economics in the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Index.”