2007 Articles

Economic policy in the public interest

Bhagwati, Jagdish N.

Economists, whose discipline has always had a strong relationship to moral philosophy, have always seen their role in society as that of pursuing the public good. They properly see themselves as guardians of the public interest, and to be engaged in public-policy debates against special interests who wish to "capture" policy to advance their narrowly circumscribed, self-serving agendas.