I’ve taken zero economics courses, and I am gratefull that I didn’t. I see every day the way they twist the thinking of people who take them. I used to think maybe these people are dummies to begin with. But then I saw cases of people taking the courses, and their minds turning to silly putty before my very eyes. You have been warned. Like Homer when he came near the Sirens, plug up your ears in them courses.
My brother took tons of them. He brought home a Samuelson text I started reading through. It made little sense then, and even less now. The difference is that back in the day I thought it must be me; now I know it’s him.
I’ve quoted Mises as saying that economics should teach a person two things: Predict the future, and what to do about it.
I am guessing that no economics course or book brags about the correct predictions it made [unlike physics books, which are full of that kind of thing. For example, the famous prediction that there is an undiscovered planet out there, and where to look for it. And every formula in a physics book is a testable prediction, of course.].
And I further guess that courses are of two types. One type claims is it teaching you both things Mises wanted, but sadly, they fail. [Proof; they give no examples of proven predictions or policies.] The other type doesn’t even bother to predict anything or suggest anything. It’s full of highly theoretical “models” which make assumptions that never exist in reality.
On the basis of what do I make these guesses if I haven’t taken the courses? From reading the posts of people here who have. Rachmonoos.