A similar idea was put forward at length about economists by Axel Leijonhufvud, in his paper "Life Among the Econ".<p><i>"A comparison of status relationships in the different “fields” shows a definite common pattern. The dominant feature, which makes status relations among the Econ of unique interest to the serious student, is the way that status is tied to the manufacture of certain types of implements, called “modls.” The status of the adult male is determined by his skill at making the “modl” of his “field.” The facts (a) that the Econ are highly status-motivated, (b) that status is only to be achieved by making ”modls,” and (c) that most of these “modls” seem to be of little or no practical use, probably accounts for the backwardness and abject cultural poverty of the tribe. Both the tight linkage between status in the tribe and modl-making and the trend toward making modls more for ceremonial than for practical purposes appear, moreover, to be fairly recent developments, something which has led many observers to express pessimism for the viability of the Econ culture."</i><p><a href="http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2007/05/axel_leijonhufv.html" rel="nofollow">http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2007/05/axe...</a>