The World Between the Wars, 1919-1939: An Economist’s Perspective

I don't know why this book, by Joseph C, Davis, isn't cited more often, as it's one of the best on this period.  Here is one small bit:

In the spring of 1933 a mock-trial of "the economists" was staged at the London School of Economics, Robert Boothby, M.P. representing "the state of the popular mind," charged the economists with "conspiring to spread mental fog," declaring that they "were unintelligible; that they had in general proved wrong; and that in any case they all disagreed."  Four men of high standing (Sir William Beveridge, Sir Arthur Salter, Professor T.E. Gregory, and Hubert Henderson) discussed Boothby's charges without wholly refuting them.  It was sagely observed: "Much of the public's distrust of economics arises from the fact that the economist is compelled to act both as physiologist and doctor at once."  In fact, economists had not been trained to be "economic doctors" or "social engineers," and very few persons had acquired such competence.

I wonder if anyone will restage such a trial today…

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