How else to get an understanding, if not by reading and discussing stuff? Why should it not be possible to gain an understanding of economics (including knowing what we don't know yet)?
Also, economics has a lot of maths in it, which many geeks tend to excel in. So I don't think their starting position is that bad. Actually even most economics students try to brush over the maths, so I don't have troubles believing that some geeks might have a better understanding of economics than the actual economists.
Also, economics has a lot of maths in it, which many geeks tend to excel in. So I don't think their starting position is that bad. Actually even most economics students try to brush over the maths, so I don't have troubles believing that some geeks might have a better understanding of economics than the actual economists.