Economists as organic intellectuals: labour market deregulation as common sense

This paper critically assesses the role of economists, predominantly of mainstream orientation, as Gramscian organic intellectuals. It investigates whether these economists, in varying roles, deploy their scientific authority to advocate for labour market deregulation as a dominant scientific and policy paradigm, thereby guiding the formation of 'common sense'. First, it addresses the conceptual and methodological foundations of deregulation, scrutinizing how the mainstream of the profession mobilizes normatively laden concepts such as 'rigidities' along with specific imaginaries and linguistic frames to mold a coherent common sense around labour market dysfunctions. Subsequently, considering dynamics of power and institutional positioning that empower economists as organic intellectuals, the materiality of labour market deregulation is examined through a case study of Greece, which since 2010 has experienced the lasting disruptive outcomes of a class-oriented hegemonic policy paradigm, implemented through consent and coercion, and reframed as an exceptional anti-crisis remedy that makes common sense.