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Ten commandments for policy economists
Author(s) -
Leman Christopher K.,
Nelson Robert H.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of policy analysis and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.898
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1520-6688
pISSN - 0276-8739
DOI - 10.2307/3324112
Subject(s) - ten commandments , economics , political science , public economics , law
Abstract The incorporation of economic approaches into policymaking requires special skills on the part of the economist. This article examines the use of economics in government as illustrated by the experience of the natural resources agencies. It presents ten guiding rules for the practicing policy economist: (1) be economical about the use of economics; (2) discount for political demand; (3) dare to be “quick‐and‐dirty”; (4) think like a manager; (5) analyze equity as well as efficiency; (6) know your market; (7) pay your organizational dues; (8) profit from action‐forcing events; (9) do not oversell economic analysis; and (10) learn policy economics by doing it.