Expansion of Economics 

 In my  last post , I wrote about the methodological identity of economics and some of the corresponding advantages.  But perhaps the greatest benefit to economists from this definition of the discipline is the great range of subjects on which one can work.   

 There are, of course, areas of inquiry traditionally dominated by economists – monetary policy, or the profit-maximizing activities of companies, to name a few – and most people connect economics, as a field, to these subjects.  Increasingly, though, economists are venturing further afield.  Steven Levitt’s best-selling book, Freakonomics, exemplifies this trend, using the tools of economics to investigate corruption in sumo wrestling, cheating in Chicago schools, and ethnic names, to name a few.  While Levitt currently sits farther from the mainstream than most economists, his work appears to be not a randomly scattered shot but rather the vanguard of a new generation of scholars. 

 What are the consequences of this expansion of economics across the social sciences?  The increasing incidence of economists working on problems traditionally associated with other fields will, no doubt, create some conflict in the coming years.  No local baron, ruling a fiefdom of land or knowledge, savors a challenge over his turf.  And the “imperial? economists, many of whom view other fields as weak and primed for colonization, will surely disrespect the vast contributions of non-economists to date.  But despite the inevitable (but still unfortunate) conflicts of ego, the majority of these interactions should be not only of great benefit to the world but also a wondrous sight to see.  Nothing in academia is quite so spectacular as the collision of two great points of view, obliterating long-held dogmas and, in the heat of debate, forging new paradigms for generations to come. 

 As a young economist, I look forward to following (and even contributing to) these great arguments to come.  And I hope that those of us writing this blog, viewing the questions in social science from diverse perspectives, can give you a look at the current state of these debates.