What economists get right (and wrong) when they write

In economics, ideas rarely fail because they are wrong. More often, they fail because they are badly introduced, poorly structured, or concluded without conviction. Anyone who has sat through a policy briefing that began with a dense equation, or read a paper whose conclusion simply restated its abstract, will recognise the problem. Economic reasoning may be rigorous, but economic communication frequently is not.

This matters more than economists sometimes admit. Economic ideas do not live in journals alone. They travel into ministries, boardrooms, classrooms and, increasingly, the public sphere. They inform interest rate decisions, shape fiscal priorities, and influence how societies understand inequality, inflation, and growth. When economists write, they are not merely reporting results. They are guiding interpretation and, in many cases, shaping action.

A well-structured document is therefore not cosmetic. It is strategic. The introduction sets the contract with the reader. The body delivers on that promise through logic and evidence. The conclusion determines whether the message lingers or dissipates. Together, these elements determine whether economic insight becomes economic influence.

The craft of economic writing should be seen through the lens of structure, with particular attention to introductions. Clarity, sequencing and narrative discipline are essential tools for economists who want their work to matter beyond their immediate peers, and I will draw on academic literature and a concrete example from applied monetary economics to make my point.

The introduction is an intellectual handshake

Introductions are often treated as formalities, a short runway before the “real” work begins. In economic writing, this attitude is costly. The introduction is not a summary. It is an invitation. It tells the reader why they should care, how the argument will unfold, and what intellectual journey they are about to undertake.

Prinz and Arnbjörnsdóttir (2021) describe the introduction as the architectural foundation of an academic text. A strong introduction, they argue, engages the reader, provides context, and leads seamlessly to the thesis. Without this structure, even technically sound analysis can feel disjointed or inaccessible. Hassan (2024) makes a similar point from a research-writing perspective, noting that the introduction establishes purpose, relevance and direction. It is the reader’s first impression and, often, their decision point about whether to continue.

In economics, this role is amplified by complexity. Models, data and policy debates can overwhelm even informed readers if they are not properly framed. A clear introduction performs three essential tasks. First, it defines the problem in plain language. Second, it situates that problem within a real-world context. Third, it signals what the reader will gain by engaging with the analysis.

When any of these elements are missing, the reader is forced to work too hard, too early. And readers, whether policymakers or students, rarely persist out of goodwill alone.

An introduction should earn attention

A useful example comes from applied macroeconomic research rather than journalism. The paper “How optimal is Ghana’s single-digit inflation targeting? An assessment of monetary policy effectiveness in Ghana” by Amoatey, Ayisi and Osei-Assibey opens with a deceptively simple observation. The optimal level of inflation, they note, has long occupied both academics and policymakers because inflation produces both benefits and costs. Growth incentives coexist with welfare losses. Stability must be balanced against flexibility.

This opening works for several reasons.

First, it begins with a broad, recognisable concern rather than a technical claim. Inflation targeting is not introduced as a narrow econometric puzzle, but as a longstanding policy dilemma. Second, the authors immediately anchor the discussion in a specific national context. Ghana is not presented as an abstract case study, but as a real economy grappling with persistent target misses and credibility challenges. Third, the phrase “necessary evil” is doing rhetorical work. It signals tension, trade-offs and uncertainty, drawing the reader into the debate rather than presenting it as settled science.

Most importantly, the introduction points forward. It makes clear that the paper is not merely descriptive. It is asking whether Ghana’s policy framework itself is fit for purpose, or whether execution, rather than design, is the problem. By the end of the introduction, the reader knows what is at stake, why it matters, and what question the analysis intends to answer.

This is precisely what an introduction should do. It lowers the cognitive barrier to entry without diluting the intellectual challenge. It respects the reader’s intelligence while guiding their attention.

Why economists struggle with introductions

If strong introductions are so powerful, why are they so rare in economic writing?

Part of the answer lies in training. Economists are taught to prioritise precision over persuasion. The incentive structures of academia reward methodological novelty and statistical robustness, not narrative clarity. Introductions become compressed literature reviews rather than carefully constructed arguments.

There is also a cultural element. Many economists write as if their audience already agrees on why the topic matters. This assumption may hold within a narrow subfield, but it collapses when ideas travel across disciplines or into policy debates. What seems self-evident to a specialist may be opaque to everyone else.

Finally, there is a misconception that clarity implies simplification and that simplification risks misrepresentation. In practice, the opposite is often true. Poorly structured writing obscures nuance. Clear structure allows complexity to be introduced gradually, giving the reader time to absorb assumptions, mechanisms and implications.

The introduction is where this discipline begins. It forces the author to articulate, in accessible terms, what the problem actually is and why it deserves attention.

Structure as a guide through complexity

While introductions open the door, the body of an economic document determines whether the reader stays. Here, logical structure is the difference between illumination and confusion.

Complex economic arguments typically rest on layered reasoning. Theory informs hypotheses. Data tests those hypotheses. Results feed into interpretation and policy implications. When this sequence is disrupted, the reader loses the thread.

A well-structured body follows a clear progression. Concepts are introduced before they are applied. Data is explained before it is analysed. Results are interpreted before they are evaluated. Each section builds on the last, reinforcing the central argument rather than competing with it.

Returning to the Ghana inflation paper, the authors move methodically from theory to evidence. They outline the rationale for inflation targeting, discuss Ghana’s institutional framework, present empirical results, and then interpret those results in light of policy credibility and structural constraints. The data does not speak in isolation. It is embedded within a narrative about policy effectiveness.

This approach mirrors good economic journalism.

For economists, the lesson is clear. Data should be sequenced to support an argument, not merely displayed. Each empirical section should answer an implicit question raised by the previous one. Why this model? Why this variable? Why this result? When the structure anticipates these questions, clarity follows.

Strategies for coherence and flow

Ensuring coherence in economic writing requires deliberate choices.

One effective strategy is signposting. Explicitly telling the reader what a section will do and why it matters reduces cognitive load. Phrases such as “to assess whether” or “this section examines” may seem pedestrian, but they are powerful navigational tools.

Another is thematic consistency. Each section should relate back to the core question posed in the introduction. Tangential results, however interesting, dilute impact if they are not clearly tied to the main argument.

Transitions matter as well. Abrupt shifts between theory and data, or between results and policy discussion, can disorient readers. Transitional paragraphs that summarise what has been established and preview what comes next maintain momentum.

These techniques are more than stylistic flourishes. They are mechanisms for respecting the reader’s attention. In a world saturated with information, even high-quality analysis competes for cognitive space.

Conclusions that do more than summarise

If introductions invite and bodies explain, conclusions decide whether the argument endures.

Weak conclusions are common in economic writing. They restate findings without synthesis, or gesture vaguely towards “future research”. Strong conclusions, by contrast, perform three tasks. They consolidate understanding, articulate implications, and leave the reader with a sense of resolution.

One of the most effective conclusions I recall reading did not introduce new data or claims. Instead, it reframed the entire analysis in light of its implications. It asked what the findings meant for policy, for theory, and for how the problem should be understood going forward. By doing so, it transformed technical results into actionable insight.

In the Ghana inflation study, the conclusion reinforces the central tension introduced at the outset. It returns to the question of optimal targeting, weighs institutional credibility against structural constraints, and highlights the policy trade-offs implied by the findings. The reader is not left wondering why the analysis mattered. The relevance is explicit.

This approach can be replicated. A good conclusion revisits the introduction, not by repetition, but by resolution. It answers the question that was posed. It shows how the analysis has altered, refined or deepened understanding. And it gestures towards action, whether in the form of policy adjustment, conceptual reframing or further inquiry.

Writing as an act of responsibility

There is a tendency among economists to view writing as secondary to analysis. Yet writing is the medium through which analysis enters the world. Poor structure can neutralise good ideas. Strong structure can amplify them.

This is not merely an academic concern. In policy environments, unclear communication can lead to misinterpretation. In public discourse, it can erode trust. In education, it can discourage engagement with economic thinking altogether.

Economists, whether in academia, government or industry, therefore carry a responsibility. They must not only be right. They must be understandable. Structure is the bridge between rigour and relevance.

Introductions deserve particular care because they determine whether that bridge is ever crossed. An engaging introduction does not oversimplify. It clarifies. It situates. It motivates. It respects the reader’s time and intelligence.

Conclusion

Economic writing succeeds when structure and substance reinforce each other. A clear and engaging introduction frames the problem and invites the reader in. A logically organised body guides them through complexity with purpose. A strong conclusion consolidates insight and points towards action.

The paper on Ghana’s inflation targeting provides an example of how these elements can work together. By balancing theory with context, data with narrative, and analysis with implication, the authors demonstrate that economic communication can be both rigorous and accessible.

For economists seeking impact, the lesson is straightforward but demanding. Writing is not an afterthought. It is part of the analytical craft. When structure is treated as strategy, economic ideas stand a far better chance of shaping how people understand and respond to the world around them.

Thank you for reading. I welcome your reflections, questions, and suggestions for future topics. Subscribe to the Entrepreneur In You newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/d-hgCVPy, follow me on all social platforms at @thisisthemax, or get weekly updates via my official WhatsApp channel: www.bit.ly/whatsappthemax.

Readers seeking a deeper engagement with these themes may find the following sources useful, each offering more detailed treatment of specific dimensions of the subject.

Amoatey, R., Ayisi, R. K., & Osei-Assibey, E. (2023). How optimal is Ghana’s single-digit inflation targeting? An assessment of monetary policy effectiveness in Ghana. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJEMS-03-2023-0119

Hassan, M. (2024, 26th March). Research paper introduction – Writing guide and examples. ResearchMethod.net. https://researchmethod.net/research-paper-introduction/

Prinz, P., & Arnbjörnsdóttir, B. (2021). The art and architecture of academic writing. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Wishing you a purposeful and successful week ahead!

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The author, Dr. Maxwell Ampong, serves as the CEO of Maxwell Investments Group. He is also an Honorary Curator at the Ghana National Museum and the Official Business Advisor with Ghana’s largest agricultural trade union under Ghana’s Trade Union Congress (TUC). Founder of WellMax Inclusive Insurance and WellMax Micro-Credit Enterprise, Dr. Ampong writes on relevant economic topics and provides general perspective pieces. ‘Entrepreneur In You’ operates under the auspices of the Africa School of Entrepreneurship, an initiative of Maxwell Investments Group.

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author, Dr. Maxwell Ampong, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or beliefs of Maxwell Investments Group or any of its affiliates. Any references to policy or regulation reflect the author’s interpretation and are not intended to represent the formal stance of Maxwell Investments Group. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Readers should seek independent advice before making any decisions based on this material. Maxwell Investments Group assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content or for any actions taken based on the information provided.

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