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1、WorldEconomicReviewRethinkingEconomics:DownswithTraction1,2StuartBirksSchoolofEconomicsandFinance,MasseyUniversity,NewZealandAbstractEconomictheoryhasrelativelylittletosayaboutthepolicymakingprocess.OneexceptionisAnthonyDowns’AnEconomicTheoryofDemocracywhichconsiderspossibleobjectivesforparticipant
2、sinthepoliticalprocess,anddevelopspropositionsontheoperationofademocracy.Twokeyassumptionswerenofalseinformationandnoirrationality.Asheacknowledged,neitherisrealistic.Thereisextensiveliterature,includingwritingbyAdamSmithonrhetoric(deliberativeeloquence)inpoliticaldebate,andthesignificanceofpropaga
3、ndawasrecognisedinthe1940s.Modernapproachestopoliticalprocesses,agendasetting,anddiscourseanalysisalsoemphasisepersuasionandframing.ThispaperbuildsonDowns'foundationbyrelaxinghisassumptions.First,thereisconsiderationofthenatureofrhetoric,including“macro-rhetoric”.Theeffectsofrhetoriconpolicydebate,
4、andtheimportanceof“traction”onpoliticalagendasarethenconsidered.Propositionsarepresentedindicating,inparticular:policyissueswillonlybeaddressedspasmodically;fewoptionswillgetattention;andthereislikelytobepoormonitoring.Considerationisthengiventoimplicationsforeconomistsandtheirapproachestopolicy.Ke
5、ywords:Rhetoric,macro-rhetoric,agendasetting,framing,traction,politics,Downs,democracy31.IntroductionThosetrainedineconomicshavecometoformaviewoftheworldthathasbeenshapedbytheirspecialisation.However,itisnotuncommonforthesepeopletocomeacrossrealworldsituationswhichsimplydonotfitthisworldview.APresi
6、dentoftheAmericanEconomicAssociationhaslistedaspectsofthe“externalenvironment”whicharecommonlyoverlooked:“(1)theframeworkoflegalandpoliticalinstitutions...(2)thecomplexofsocialinstitutionsthatmakeupwhatmaylooselybereferredtoasthesocialenvironment;(3)theevolvingbodyofscientificandtechnicalknowledge(
7、andtheinstitutionsthroughwhichsuchknowledgeisdevelopedandtransmitted);(4)thephysicalenvironment;and(5)thecomplexofpoliticalandeconomicarrangementsthattieanationtotherestoftheworld."(Gordon,1976)Oneresponset
