The Priesthood

The IMF profiles psychologist Daniel Kahneman, who was awarded a Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002 for his contributions to behavioral economics. The article discusses Kahneman’s childhood in Nazi-occupied Paris, his role in the behavioral economics movement, and his experience as an economics “outsider.” Kahneman, who has described economics as a strict priesthood, says, “Yes, I have spoken of a church, but it is not a church where you get burned at the stake for being a heretic, because otherwise a lot of people wouldn’t be around!” (HT: Nudge) [%comments]