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About this quote

What does it mean?
The term political economy is ironically named because the subject often lacks genuine connection to actual politics or economic reality.
In plain terms
The name is ironic since the field ignores real politics and economics.
What can you take from it?
Scrutinize names and labels to see if they match reality.

Where it applies

  • policy analysis
  • academic critique
  • public discourse

Putting it to work

  • Evaluate policy claims critically
  • Check label accuracy

Questions to consider

  • How often do titles mislead?
  • What defines a real economy?

Another view

The field does aim to study politics and economics even if imperfectly.

More from Stephen Leacock

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  2. Life, we learn too late, is in the living, the tissue of every day and hour.

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  3. It takes a good deal of physical courage to ride a horse. This, however, I have. I get it at about forty cents a flask, and take it as required.

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