Introduction
Modern economics is more than just mathematical models; it is the analytical core of social coordination. In the view of Jean Tirole and Elżbieta Mączyńska, it becomes a reconstructive discipline that, instead of imposing goals, analyzes the conditions conducive to mature decision-making. This article explains how economics for the common good can protect us from populism and technological challenges.
Jean Tirole: Economics in Service of the General Interest
According to Tirole, economics does not define life's goals but distinguishes effective means from ineffective ones. It is a science that identifies patterns, information asymmetries, and externalities. Economics for the common good requires moving away from technocratic dominance in favor of expert support for public debate.
Intuition vs. Facts: The Trap of Simplified Judgments
When solving economic problems, intuition often fails. These issues require thinking in terms of indirect effects and general equilibria, which often clashes with our spontaneous perception of the world. Understanding this difference is crucial for avoiding flawed political decisions.
Elżbieta Mączyńska: Quality of Life Over GDP Growth
Elżbieta Mączyńska emphasizes that the economy is not an end in itself, but a tool for improving the quality of life. Development must harmoniously combine the economic, social, and ecological spheres. Neglecting this balance makes the system vulnerable to shocks and populist resentment.
The Economist: A Mediator Between Science and Politics
The profession of an economist is a practice of mediation between the logic of scarcity, claims for justice, and subjective beliefs. Their role is to expose contradictory promises and point out real opportunity costs (trade-offs).
Institutions and Psychology: The New Pillars of Economics
The modern paradigm rests on three pillars: behavioral economics (studying cognitive biases), information economics (analyzing knowledge asymmetry), and institutional economics (examining the impact of norms and law on the effectiveness of incentives).
Populism Distorts the Structure of Social Information
Populism is not just about different goals; it is a systematic distortion of information. It exploits prejudices, focuses on easily identifiable victims, and ignores ironclad budgetary rules. The P, Q, and R metaphor exposes a logical contradiction: populist policy (P) gains support (R), but by definition, it cannot be economically justified (Q).
USA, Europe, and the Arab World: Three Economic Models
Economic knowledge is instrumentalized differently: in the Arab world, rentier logic and clientelism dominate; in the USA, polarization and corporate capture of tools prevail; and in Europe, there is a tension between technocracy and the social-democratic model.
Artificial Intelligence Redefines Expert Competencies
The AI revolution is shifting the expert's role from a data analyst to a guardian of responsible technology adoption. Algorithms affect productivity and inequality, which requires designing institutions that protect against information exclusion.
The Economy of Impermanence Forces Boardroom Agility
In the era of the economy of impermanence, corporate boards must manage systemic risks. Ignoring social and ecological costs is no longer just an ethical issue; it has become a hard financial risk threatening business legitimacy.
Political Phishing: The Technology of Hooking Voters
Populism operates like political phishing: it promises immediate transfers to a selected group while shifting costs onto anonymous taxpayers. In the Polish parliament, two forms dominate: redistributive populism (unfunded spending) and liberal-comfort populism (protecting privileges under the guise of the market).
Identity vs. Technocracy: Two Faces of Populism
Identity-based populism reduces the common good to national interest, rejecting facts (e.g., regarding the climate) as mere ideology. Conversely, technocracy, by managing over the heads of citizens, provokes democratic resistance, making it difficult to build a rational consensus.
Summary
Polarization makes building a market consensus impossible when the claim to truth is replaced by popularity. Ethics and crisis define the economist's new mission: building bridges between experts and citizens. In a world of algorithms, there are no technical tricks to avoid responsibility—the shape of the world for future generations depends on the quality of our choices today.
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