Crash, Boom, Pop! Heterodox Economics as a Cartoon Story

Econintersect: A “novel” project is underway at the Institute for Dynamic Economic Analysis. The idea is to create a multi-volume cartoon illustrated economics story that explains with humor and visual impact just what the ideas are that form the foundation of economics. This is not “your grandfather’s economics” but the emerging and often contentious field commonly called “heterodox economics” which is based less on the idea that economic systems can be described starting with conceptual models; and more that economics is best understood from the base of empirical observation of economic systems subjected to rigorous, logical analysis.

While much of mainstream economics (neoclassical economics) could be considered as much armchair philosophy as science, heterodoxy often (but not always) eschews philosophy and focuses on measurement and observation.

The new  project has the objective of making the introduction to economics as easy as reading a comic book but as meaningful as the focus on observation and measurement of systems can make it.  The focus is to avoid presenting “what to think” and to try to present “how to think”.

The project is being supported by crowdfunding (click on caption graphic at the beginning of this article) with supporters receiving mementos associated with the project based on the level of support.

There are two crowd funding pages. The one at StartJoin has exceeded its $2,000 goal but is still accepting pledges.

The Crash, Boom, Pop page at Kickstarter has received more than $7,800 of the $35,000 goal.

Both campaigns have 15 days remaining. Support the presentation of observed economic activities with text accompanied by challenging cartoon graphics such as:

The basis of the books will follow the structure of Steve Keen’s “Debunking Economics” (Second Edition 2011) which is a scholarly presentation of the logical inconsistencies in most of what is considered to be economics over the past several decades. The books will have color illustrations accompanying a text representing a condensation of what is in the traditional textbook.  A draft of the introduction can be viewed below (which has black-and-white-illustrations):

Make your pledge:

Kickstarter (has not reached goal) or StartJoin (exceeded goal).

John Lounsbury