Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned

My fellow economists, have you ever engaged in one of these activities?

• Building models one does not really believe to be useful or relevant.
• Making simplifications that obscure or omit important things.
• Using data one does not really believe in.
• Focusing on the statistical significance of one�s findings while quietly doubting economic significance.
• Engaging in data mining.
• Drawing �policy implications� that one knows are inappropriate or misleading.
• Keeping the discourse �between the 40 yard lines� so as to avoid being outspoken; knowingly eliding fundamental issues.
• Tilting the flavor of policy judgments to make a paper more acceptable to referees, editors, publishers, or funders.
• Disguising one�s methodological or ideological views, such as by omitting revealing activities or publications from one�s vitae.
• For government, institute, or corporate economists: Having to significantly play along with things one does not believe in.

If so, you now have an opportunity to make a full confession.