An extraordinary stat from the always-splendid Peter Martin:
Only 1 of the Coalition’s 21 frontbenchers has a degree in economics.
And this, from the party that champions itself as the friend of business. Economics degrees are so common that the shadow cabinet room must have one of the lowest rates of formal economics training of any organization in the country. The flipside is of course, the over-supply of lawyers in Australian political life:
An astonishing 13 of the Coalition’s 17 tertiary-educated frontbenchers are lawyers, among them Julie Bishop and Joe Hockey.
Of course, an economics degree isn’t the only path to economic literacy–as Paul Keating proved during his time running the Treasury. But it has to help.
I wonder what the equivalent numbers look like for the ALP. If you’ve got ‘em, please send ‘em along.
UPDATE: Peter Martin says: “I was wrong.” It turns out that there are a bit more economics training on the Coalition frontbench than he initially reported: Abbott, Robb and Minchin have economics degrees, and Stone has a PhD in economics.
Simon Crean, Stephen Conroy and Jenny Macklin all have economics degrees.
3 out of 20 Cabinet members ain’t flash, but better than the Coalition is doing, I guess.
I count five; Albanese and Furguson have B.Ec degrees (Furgusin has Hon too). That doesn’t automatically mean they majored in economics, I suppose.
Tony Abbott and Nick Minchin both have BEc.’s, and Sharman Stone has a PhD in economics.
Craig Emerson also (per his website)…
Craig holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) Degree, University of Sydney, Masters of Economics Degree, University of Sydney, and PhD in Economics, The Australian National University.
Craig Emmerson in the outer ministry has a PHD in economics too
I think alot of the former Union administrators whom intended to join the organisations before or whilst at uni studied economics (like Combet [I think]), since it seemed a necessary weapon in their intended careers.
And on ability to understand climate data, science or engineering degrees (not just meteorology) would make a good metric
Does this classify as empirical proof that politicians are good at changing laws, but don’t know what a good law is?
Doesn’t Bill Shorten have an MBA from MBS?
Ignore my ill-informed Shorten mention (he isn’t (yet) a minister of course).
Here’s my count for the Labor cabinet from the Parliamentary bios:
12 Law degrees
5 Eco/Com degrees (as identified above)
3 with neither but with BAs (Rudd & Swan! + Carr)
2 with none (Ellis & Fitzgibbon)
(doesn’t sum to 20 due to 2 LLB/Eco combos – Crean & Ferguson)