British Quote by Kim Stanley Robinson
“Economics was like psychology, a pseudoscience trying to hide that fact with intense theoretical hyperelaboration. And gross domestic product was one of those unfortunate measurement concepts, like inches or the British thermal unit, that ought to have been retired long before.”
About This Quote
Source Book: New York 2070, 2015
Economics pretends to be scientific but hides its lack of rigor behind complex theory, and GDP is an outdated metric like obsolete units.
In simple terms: Economics hides its flaws with jargon; GDP is outdated.
Key Takeaway
Questionify economic measures.
Themes
economics
critique
measurement
Mood
skeptical
critical
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- academic debate
- public discourse
Key Concepts
pseudoscience
hyperelaboration
metrics
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternative metrics could replace GDP?
- How does jargon affect public trust?
A Different Perspective
GDP may still be useful for some comparisons.
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