ABSTRACT
Any social science (like economics—and also, public administration (PA)) could be in a more optimal position if it could increase its imaginative, and reduce its ideological, character. Economics, as it is, is of some help in increasing understanding in PA and in other social sciences, for example, with public choice economics. Economics, as it is, does shed some light on PA and other social sciences. Public choice economics, as mentioned, applies economics to political science—and, to a much lesser extent, to PA. To develop an optimal relationship to disciplines like economics and to the real world, PA must increase its disciplinary scope. It is striking that the economic and PA perspectives are both, basically, downward looking. Yet, normally, the limited directionality of PA (and economics) theory and practice are considered to be normal, natural, and right. Macro PA could usefully consider whether a natural hierarchical order is natural.
