What is the role of experts in democracy?...Their views, supported by arguments and evidence, help individuals and their representatives to form judgments. This is not how economists typically see their democratic role.  They do not see themselves as participants in public deliberation, helping people to make their judgments.  Instead, they think their role is to help ensure that the preferences of the people prevail.  They do this by basing their valuations on market prices, which reflect people's preferences. It strikes me that Broome is obviously correct in writing that economists pay a lot of attention, maybe even too much, to people's preferences; but it strikes me as obviously incorrect that "they do not see themselves as participants in public deliberation." In fact, the world seems absolutely brimming with activist economists of one stripe or another. Anyway: what do you make of Mark Kozel 's question? Addendum : This post was written and scheduled before we became aware of the recent Colorado shooting ; we regret the timing. COMMENTS: 53 The "mess afterwards" is more than just bodies, it's the loss of expectation and reliance on others, especially the state, to watch each others' backs. That kind of social capital is difficult to value accurately and to regain fully, e.g. failed states. "it's the loss of expectation and reliance on others, especially the state, to watch each others' backs." Except that there is often a tradeoff, the less you rely on the state, the more you may assist or rely on