John Pierce: Do you have any guidance or tips that you would give to economic students about, you know, when it comes to writing about
economics? Things to keep in mind?
Ross Gittins: The most important thing to remember, there are lots of things but the most important single thing to remember is: don't
skip steps in the argument. Economists think it's all obvious and clear and they keep jumping steps. And every time an economist
jumps a step in the argument, he loses, or she loses part of the audience. If you're spelling something out, go through all
the steps.
Don't be afraid to say the obvious because what's obvious to you may not be obvious to other people, and in any case, people
like the obvious. Economists are afraid, lots of people are afraid that if I state the obvious, I'll be offending your intelligence.
It doesn't actually work like that. People like you to say things that they know and have always believed. It makes them feel
comfortable. They say, 'Yes, I understand that. Take me somewhere further.'
John: There appears to be a perception I think, at least amongst some high school students, that economics is the sort of subject
you do if you're good at mathematics. How important have you found mathematics in your understanding of economics? How relevant
is it?
Ross: For me, not terribly. Fortunately I went to university before there was a lot of maths in the course. And I wouldn't say
that I'm terribly up with all the maths. Economics has become a lot more mathematical. I'd say that you don't need it to do
economics at high school. Economics at high school is about words and understanding and the maths involved is just a bit of
arithmetic. I have to say that when you do economics at university, there is a fair bit of maths, a fair bit more maths as
each year passes.
