Can economic sciences be fascinating?

Abstract

Economics – or more broadly, the economic sciences – have a common reputation
as a dry, hermetic field, focused mainly on numbers, models, and indicators.
In the eyes of the general public, they are perceived as a cold, technocratic, and
model-driven discipline – dominated by graphs, diagrams, algorithms, equations,
and a specialized, often incomprehensible language. In a classic anecdote, Carlyle
referred to economics as the “dismal science”, contrasting it with more inspired
disciplines such as philosophy, literature, or the arts. Nevertheless, my answer
to the question posed in the title is an unequivocal “yes”. It is precisely the economic
sciences that allow us to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying
the functioning of modern societies. They teach us how to think about the
scarcity of resources, the trade-offs we must make, and the structure of decisions
that shape not only markets but also everyday life. In justifying my position,
I would like to point to five reasons why economics can attract the mind not only
through its practical usefulness but also through its cognitive depth and aesthetic
structure. This paper presents an attempt to elaborate on these arguments and
situate them within the broader context of contemporary social sciences. On the
other hand, one must also acknowledge the imperfections and limitations of
economics, which may weaken the fascination it inspires.