When I read economics textbooks, I see a marked contrast to physics textbooks. e.g. in physics, they might explain about a pendulum using equations etc, but then they show you real experimental data, to show that your equations about period vs pendulum length are correct. I have not found economics textbooks that do that.
The more basic thing that economics gives me is akin to this: when iron ships were first proposed, sceptics might say 'iron sinks, so iron ships are impossible, you are crazy'. You can answer this by putting an iron saucepan in the kitchen sink, and showing that it floats.
So (macro) economics can tell me some basic things about 'which way is up'. But putting even half-accurate numbers on things is difficult. imo economics is often done best when you view it using historical case studies + theory to know which way each effect acts.
This is not to say that what you ask is impossible, but when that is done (by experts, not me), it is not convincing enough to convince others that it is right.
When I read economics textbooks, I see a marked contrast to physics textbooks. e.g. in physics, they might explain about a pendulum using equations etc, but then they show you real experimental data, to show that your equations about period vs pendulum length are correct. I have not found economics textbooks that do that.
The more basic thing that economics gives me is akin to this: when iron ships were first proposed, sceptics might say 'iron sinks, so iron ships are impossible, you are crazy'. You can answer this by putting an iron saucepan in the kitchen sink, and showing that it floats.
So (macro) economics can tell me some basic things about 'which way is up'. But putting even half-accurate numbers on things is difficult. imo economics is often done best when you view it using historical case studies + theory to know which way each effect acts.
This is not to say that what you ask is impossible, but when that is done (by experts, not me), it is not convincing enough to convince others that it is right.