On the Political Economy of Economic Policy Advice

Because it is possible to find for any political position economists who defend it (for money), economists giving policy advice are in the general public often accused of being corruptible. The purpose of this paper is to show that nevertheless it is possible that the process of policy advice leads to objective knowledge. We ask for the role of the scientist in this process. This is done on the basis of critical rationalism. Then it is shown that economic theory is so weak that it is possible for different economists to defend pretty contrary positions with the claim of scientific truth. Consequently, a precondition for reaching objectivity is an open public discussion