HT to Greg Mankiw for linking to this call for papers from Econ Journal Watch. Professional economists are invited to confess (anonymously) to any and all of the following. Of course this sort of intellectual shading goes on to some degree in almost every profession. All the more reason to promote the free speech and political checks and balances that can counter self-interested malarkey.

-- Building models one does not really believe to be useful or relevant.

-- Making simplifications that obscure or omit important things.
Using data one does not really believe in.

-- Focusing on the statistical significance of one’s findings while quietly doubting economic significance.

-- Engaging in data mining.

-- Drawing “policy implications” that one knows are inappropriate or misleading.

-- Keeping the discourse “between the 40 yard lines” so as to avoid being outspoken; knowingly eliding fundamental issues.

-- Tilting the flavor of policy judgments to make a paper more acceptable to referees, editors, publishers, or funders.

-- Disguising one’s methodological or ideological views, such as by omitting revealing activities or publications from one’s vitae.

-- For government, institute, or corporate economists: Having to significantly play along with things one does not believe in.