This paper argues for two propositions. (I) Large asymmetries of power, status and influence exist between economists. These asymmetries constitute a hierarchy that is steeper than it could be and steeper than hierarchies in other disciplines. (II) This situation has potentially significant epistemic consequences. I collect data on the social organization of economics to show (I). I then argue that the hierarchy in economics heightens conservative selection biases, restricts criticism between economists and disincentivizes the development of novel research. These factors together constrain economics’ capacity to develop new beliefs and reduce the likelihood that its outputs will be true.

中文翻译：

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经济学中的层次结构及其含义

本文论证了两个命题。（一）经济学家之间权力、地位和影响存在较大不对称。这些不对称构成了一个比其他学科的等级制度更陡峭的等级制度。(II) 这种情况具有潜在的重大认知后果。我收集关于经济社会组织的数据来展示（I）。然后，我认为经济学中的等级制度加剧了保守的选择偏见，限制了经济学家之间的批评，并阻碍了新研究的发展。这些因素共同限制了经济学发展新信念的能力，并降低了其输出为真的可能性。