Review of Behavioral Economics > Vol 12 > Issue 3

Cargo-Cult Economics to Metaeconomics: Toward a Humanomics with a Theory

Gary D. Lynne, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, glynne1@unl.edu
 
Suggested Citation
Gary D. Lynne (2025), "Cargo-Cult Economics to Metaeconomics: Toward a Humanomics with a Theory", Review of Behavioral Economics: Vol. 12: No. 3, pp 257-289. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/105.00000212

Publication Date: 28 May 2025
© 2025 G. D. Lynne
 
Subjects
Behavioral economics,  Labor economics,  Economic theory
 
Keywords
JEL Codes: D0, D01, D91, N00, O12, O40, P10, Z1
Humanomicsmetaeconomicsdual interest theorymicroeconomicssingle interest theoryprofanesacredethicsvirtuesdignityequalitylibertyfreedomliberalism
 

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This is published under the terms of CC BY-NC.

In this article:
Cargo-Cult Economics to Metaeconomics: Toward a Humanomics with a Theory 

Abstract

Economic historian, and self-reported as a reformed Libertarian economist, Deirdre McCloskey published 2980 pages in 7-books over the period of 2006–2022. It is a serious and systematic inquiry using both science & humanities into what led to most if not all now experiencing 16 to 100 times, and more, than the $3/day income throughout recorded history before 1800. Humanomics is used to point to the key role of the ethic that gave content to the Bourgeois Deal which drove the Enrichment. The Deal gave liberty and freedom, dignity and equality to ordinary people who could then have a go at betterment as tested in the Market. The paper examines the McCloskey claims using Dual Interest Theory (DIT) in Metaeconomics, moving beyond the cargo-cult Single Interest Theory (SIT) in Microeconomics that cannot explain the Enrichment. Humanomics with DIT as the core theory is essential to stay on the path to further Enrichment.

DOI:10.1561/105.00000212