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Between Social Philosophy and Technical Execution: Policy Advice by Economic Scientists

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  2. Economics, Finance, Business & Management
  3. Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch
  4. Vol. 142, Issue 4
  5. pp. 387–407

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Freytag, A., Schuhmann, S. Between Social Philosophy and Technical Execution: Policy Advice by Economic Scientists. Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch, 142(4), 387-407. https://doi.org/10.3790/schm.2025.401890
Freytag, Andreas and Schuhmann, Sebastian "Between Social Philosophy and Technical Execution: Policy Advice by Economic Scientists" Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch 142.4, 2022, 387-407. https://doi.org/10.3790/schm.2025.401890
Freytag, Andreas/Schuhmann, Sebastian (2022): Between Social Philosophy and Technical Execution: Policy Advice by Economic Scientists, in: Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch, vol. 142, iss. 4, 387-407, [online] https://doi.org/10.3790/schm.2025.401890
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Between Social Philosophy and Technical Execution: Policy Advice by Economic Scientists

Freytag, Andreas | Schuhmann, Sebastian

Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch, Vol. 142(2022), Iss. 4 : pp. 387–407 | First published online: June 04, 2025

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Article Details

Publisher Name
Duncker & Humblot
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3790/schm.2025.401890
Language
English
Pages
21
License
open-access https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Keywords

Author Details

Prof. Dr. Andreas Freytag, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena Carl-Zeiss-Str. 3 07743 Jena, Germany

Dr. Sebastian Schuhmann, Institut für angewandte Informatik Goerdelerring 9 04109 Leipzig, Germany

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Abstract

Until recently, policy advice has been mainly a field for specialists who are familiar with the political economy of their field, have a profound theoretical understanding, and are familiar with the pertinent empirical evidence. That said, they do not necessarily have to be excellent scientists themselves. A new member of the German Council of Economic Experts has recently doubted this model and pointed out that it is good that excellent scientists will now have more influence in policy debates in Germany. This is a reminder of the need to embed policy advice in science without losing touch with the real world. We address two main topics, first, the very relation between science and policy advice and, second, the impact of advice on the formulation of qualified economic policy. The discussion is guided by four leading questions: Is there ideal policy advice, and an ideal model? What is excellent research? Does excellent research guarantee excellent policy advice? Do paradigms play a role?

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Andreas Freytag and Sebastian Schuhmann: Between Social Philosophy and Technical Execution: Policy Advice by Economic Scientists 1
1. Introduction 1
2. The Purpose and Legitimacy of Policy Advice 2
3. Q1: Is There Ideal Policy Advice? Is There an Ideal Model? 4
4. Q2: What Is Excellent Research? 6
5. Q3: Does Excellent Research Guarantee Excellent Policy Advice? 8
6. Q4: Do Paradigms Play a Role? 14
7. Trends and the Current State of Scientific Policy Advising 16
8. Conclusion 17
References 18

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