Why economists shouldn't forecast

Hindsight provides an opportunity to learn from our mistakes.

Ideally, we learn enough about our mistakes never to repeat them again.

Economists who make forecasts disagree: The past is in the past. The future is different and uncertain. It's hard to disagree with that. After all, economists know what they're doing, right?

Not quite.

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Over a year ago I wrote about the assumptions economists need to make. The International Monetary Fund has just published its World Economic Outlook, with it's regular section on assumptions (pdf, p.viii).

In 2004, the IMF made the following assumptions about oil prices:

"... the average price of oil will be $30.00 a barrel in 2004 and $27.00 a barrel in 2005, and remain unchanged in real terms over the medium term." (viii)

These levels were clearly way off course, as were their forecasts for economic growth.

In 2005, they now assume the following for crude oil prices:

"... the average price of oil will be $54.23 a barrel in 2005 and $61.75 a barrel in 2006 (viii)

Naturally, these forecasts are wrong as are their forecasts for economic growth.

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The moral of this story?

(1) Always consider the assumptions behind an economist's forecast;
(2) Never trust an economist's forecast;
(3) Economists shouldn't make forecasts.

and

(4) Your forecast is as good as an economist's!