Open AccessWhy have economists done so well in the British civil service?
Author(s) -
Allan Lewis
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
oxonomics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1752-5209
pISSN - 1752-5195
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-5209.2008.00022.x
Subject(s) - treasury , civil service , phenomenon , spanish civil war , foundation (evidence) , government (linguistics) , service (business) , political science , economic history , economics , political economy , public administration , history , development economics , economy , law , public service , philosophy , linguistics , epistemology
Economists are uniquely large in number and influence in the British civil service compared to other professionals. The significant number and influence of economists is a comparatively recent phenomenon, dating predominantly from the foundation of the Government Economic Service in 1964, with some roots in the Second World War. Reasons spanning from the role of economists as ‘arch‐rationalizers’ to the rise in influence of the Treasury are advanced to explain this development. It is noted that while economists have proliferated in Whitehall, they have yet to do so in Westminster.