--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Economics ought to be a magpie…" description: "\"“Economics ought to be a magpie discipline, taking in philosophy, history and politics. But heterodox approaches have long since been banished from mos..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/aditya-chakrabortty-182066_cambridge-university_economics-ought-to-be-a-magpie-disciplin_1808512.jpg" --- # Economics ought to be a magpie discipline, taking in… ![“Economics ought to be a magpie discipline, taking in philosophy, history and politics. But heterodox approaches have long since been banished from most faculties, claims Tony Lawson. In the 1970s, when he started teaching at Cambridge, the economics faculty still boasted legends such as Nicky…” quote by Aditya Chakrabortty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/aditya-chakrabortty-182066_cambridge-university_economics-ought-to-be-a-magpie-disciplin_1808512.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/aditya-chakrabortty-182066_cambridge-university_economics-ought-to-be-a-magpie-disciplin_1808512.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/aditya-chakrabortty-182066_cambridge-university_economics-ought-to-be-a-magpie-disciplin_1808512.jpg) > ““Economics ought to be a magpie discipline, taking in philosophy, history and politics. But heterodox approaches have long since been banished from most faculties, claims Tony Lawson. In the 1970s, when he started teaching at Cambridge, the economics faculty still boasted legends such as Nicky Kaldor and Joan Robinson. "There were big debates, and students would study politics, the history of economic thought." And now? "Nothing. No debates, no politics or history of economic thought and the courses are nearly all maths." How do elites remain in charge? If the tale of the economists is any guide, by clearing out the opposition and then blocking their ears to reality. The result is the one we're all paying for.”” Aditya Chakrabortty ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economics should be interdisciplinary, but orthodoxy has narrowed it, silencing debate and reality. **In simple terms:** Academic conformity stifles diverse perspectives. Key Takeaway Champion interdisciplinary study. Themes education economics discipline Mood concerned optimistic Type academic critical When to use this quote - curriculum design - research funding - public policy Key Concepts Philosophy of science academic freedom Questions to Reflect On - How can heterodox ideas regain foothold? - What costs arise from intellectual homogeneity? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched institutions is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cambridge university](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cambridge-university/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economists/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [The-guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-guardian/) ## Related quotes > [My parents are very proud that I was a 'Blue Peter' presenter and of me going to Cambridge to do economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konnie-huq/my-parents-are-very-proud-that-i-was-a-blue-peter-presenter-and-of-me/) [Konnie Huq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konnie-huq/) > [It is impossible to understand the history of economic thought if one does not pay attention to the fact that economics as such is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/it-is-impossible-to-understand-the-history-of-economic-thought-if-one/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Some of the most serious fallacies of traditional economics have been due to confusion between optimum and equilibrium conditions; the apparent influence of Dr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-john-richard-hicks/some-of-the-most-serious-fallacies-of-traditional-economics-have-been/) [Sir John Richard Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-john-richard-hicks/) > [The Panic of 1819 exerted a profound effect on American economic thought. 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