ABSTRACT
Taking up the discipline of economics appears to be a perfectly normal thing to do. What else could it be? Many thousands join its ranks every year. New recruits find out that a profusion of economists makes up an apparently powerful discipline that easily prevails in academic status over other social sciences such as sociology, psychology, and anthropology. They will find out that economics is the only social science to have its own Nobel Prize, and learn that economists are well represented in government, occupy high-ranking offices such as cabinet ministers and presidents, and assume powerful positions as chief executive officers (CEOs) and chief financial officers (CFOs) of major corporations. Economists are also regularly featured as experts in the media. With such size and regard, it must be perfectly normal. Or so it seems.
