Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics 19, no. 1 (Spring 2016): 85–100
This book tells its readers a great deal about the inner workings of mainstream economics, particularly behavioral economics. This review details just how far the profession has drifted from reality. My general impression is that the authors are simply putting forth their opinions or perceptions of how the world should be, and then constructing a theory to justify those opinions. The theory is then supported by a selective construction of events.
The authors are both Nobel laureates and in 2009 wrote Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism. Here they argued that because of emotions and psychology, the government’s response to the financial crisis must be decisive and overwhelming. The government’s response, particularly the Federal Reserve’s, gives the impression that the book was influential among policymakers.
