what are the similarities and differences in the roles economists play as policy advisors and as scientists.?

Question

How would advice offered to policymakers differ depending on which role an economist assumes?

Answer 1

Similarities -- they both use the same set of skills and face the same set of economic problems.

Differences -- the scientist tends to ask more "positive economic" questions -- how do I explain how the world works? The policy advisor tends to ask more "normative economic" questions -- how can I make the world work better?

Answer 2

just like the one that make the house and the one that live in it