我们就从武夫自己对经济学家的定义说起“An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy。”请大家注意红字的地方,这是关键。
根据上面的定义,一个经济学家必须是一个“professinal”,即专业人士的意思。什么是专业人士呢,我们用武夫喜欢用的google来 search一下“A professional is a person who is engaged in a certain activity, or occupation, for gain or compensation as means of livelihood; such as a permanent career, not as an amateur or pastime.” 这句话的重点是专业人士是以所从事的活动为生的,比如一份永久的职业,而不是“amateur”,就是业余的意思。套用在经济学家来讲,就是要以经济研究为职业的,而不是业余时间读点经济的书或只是对经济学感兴趣,比如像武夫这样的。