Nerds and bank lock-ins: things I’ll miss about the numbers game
by Heather Stewart from on (#ZF8E)
Our outgoing economics editor on what she will regret not having to deal with in the world of politics
As I depart this pleasant berth to cover politics for the Guardian, after almost 15 years writing about the twists and turns of the global economy, there are plenty of things I will leave behind lightly - not least a dusty pile of unread books - but, if you will excuse the self-indulgence, dear readers, here are a few things I'm missing already:
Nerds
Call them what you like: wonks, number-crunchers, analysts, every field has its experts; but economists are in a class of their own. With their baffled insouciance about anyone who fails to share their interpretation of the facts - and on occasion, blind fury about the stubborn irrationality of politicians, regulators, and most of all their rival economists, they are an extraordinary tribe.