Jerry, I think Rakesh is essentially right regarding the issue of Marxists economists. "Marxist economist" is an oxymoron. >From point of view of the profession, being Marxist today is something that only a lunatic can be. For the *real economists* Marx is considered an old fashioned proponent of a *logically inconsistent* theory of capitalism and then he has no credit at all. A more learned version of this considers Marx as a sort of Ptolemaian astronomer --we just heard this comparison on this list!-- and, as no Ptolemaian can get a post as *astronomer* today, no Marxist can apply to an *economist* job today. She or he can be "economist" but not in her or his condition of Marxist. It's the same thing that someone who apply to a M.D. job whose credentials are being an Astrologer, follower of a XIX century mystic. This is the *real* and widespread appraisal of the profession regarding Marx. And, I'd add that the so-called "Marxist economists" have contributed a lot to this situation. I think this is what Rakesh refers to as the "tremendously destructive role of Marxist economists." They are the people who permanently have said and "demonstrated" that, in effect, Marx's theory is logically flawed, that he is a Ptolemaian still waliking in the XX century. It's quite possible that in rich countries having well funded academic institutions somebody can get a post as "Marxist Economist" but this is an exception. In my own personal professional experience as economist I MUST take out from my Personal History whatever thing looks like Marxism. Otherwise, nobody would give me any job. In Latin America, it would be simply crazy to be a "Marxist Economist" outside perhaps some limited spaces in the academy in Mexico and Brazil. >From the point of view of Marxism, being an *economist* today would be crazy too. In the last 30 years, economists have been behind every unpopular, rich oriented policy. In Latin America, economists were ideological and practical pillars of dictators as Pinochet and Videla. Economists are the people cited as *scientific authorities* for supporting any neoliberal policy and uniformly they do this job. Today, economists are essentially ideologues of the right wing and institutions such the World Bank and IMF and all the network they control. This is the real status of the profession. Besides this, you can survive making very marginal things, not to speak of being "Marxist Economist"!!! Alejandro R.
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