## A Hippocratic Oath for economists

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [A Hippocratic Oath for economists](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2024/06/economists-oath.pdf)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2024/06/economists-oath.pdf.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2024/06/economists-oath.pdf.json)

---

### People behind the numbers
- I will always remember that behind the numbers and codes there are people with dreams, aspirations, and needs.

### Tradition and freedom
- In crafting policies, I will respect local traditions, yet be informed by universal human freedoms, while ensuring that my values guide but do not dominate.

### Humble listening, thoughtful speaking
- With imagination and curiosity, I will aim to uncover unseen layers of people, places, and ideas, valuing understanding over quick judgments.

### Diversity in understanding
- I will honor truths from diverse voices, regardless of background, eloquence, or identity.

### Mindful of motives, yet objective
- I will be honest about my personal leanings, politics, and ambitions while making a sincere effort to anchor my work and advice in objectivity.

### Truth through data
- I commit to using data to uncover and measure the deeper truths of our economic lives, even before I look for cause and effect.

### Grit and grace in learning
- I promise to continuously hone my expertise, learn from missteps, and stay open to fresh insights, even those that question my core beliefs.

### Progress with perspective
- Beyond the promotion of individual and national incomes, I vow to enhance progress rooted in human well-being and inclusive prosperity.

### Clarity amid complexity
- I will communicate my insights clearly and without pretension so that complex ideas are both accessible and respected for their intricacy.

### Shared stewardship
- Engaged with civil society, I will spur broader participation in economic dialogue, emphasizing our shared stake in the economic future.

### Principled pragmatism
- Real-world constraints may push me toward quick wins or voter-safe solutions, but I will strive for policies rooted in sound principles and social welfare.

### Mentorship for tomorrow
- By guiding and inspiring future economists, I will ensure that the torch of wisdom and curiosity shines brighter across eras.

### Future focus
- I will endeavor to shape an economy that benefits the planet and future generations, placing suitable value on the distant rewards of sustainable growth.

### Seeing the unseen
- Aware of potential distortions from varying interests, I will remember the unrepresented, weighing visible benefits against unseen costs for silent stakeholders.

### Principled path
- Even in the absence of external rules or laws, my ethical stance will remain steady—advance progress or avoid harm and never forget my work’s societal implications.

### Personal commitment and ethos
- I am but one drop amid many in the vast ocean of social, political, and economic realities. Yet, bearing the essence of the entire ocean, I will carry out my duties with detachment, free from emotional ties to outcomes or to the allure of recognition.
- As I dedicate myself to understanding our world and enhancing individual freedoms, informed by past wisdom and the universal principles that bridge human experiences, I pledge to set aside my fleeting urges and elevate my feelings, thoughts, and actions towward wisdom, liberty, and service.
- With this pledge, I hold in my heart a commitment to apply my knowledge and efforts for the greater good, ever conscious of my duty to people, planet, and progress.

*Source: economists-oath (PDF), JUNE 2024*

---


_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2024/06/economists-oath.pdf_