Quit Lying and Address the Controversies: There are No Dogmata, Laws, Rules or Standards in the Science of Economics

Abstract

As with other sciences, the author argues that there are no unquestionable ideas in economics, and attempts to impose “No Child Left Behind” K-12 type “technical standards” in universities will turn higher education in economics into remedial education. Students need to learn that the very nature of a science is to have unresolved topics and an on-going scrutiny of theories no matter how steeped they are in tradition. He provides examples to show how the dumbing down of economics to the dogmatic preaching of a few simple concepts, principles, and axioms of old misses the excitement of modem day economics and is a deceitful representation of the science of economics and a disservice to students seeking a higher education.