Part 1 The general debate: economic rationalism - what does economics really say?, Geoff Brennan; reclaiming the middle ground ... from new right economic rationalism, Michael Pusey; a panel of views - economic rationalists and anti-economic rationalities, Richard Blandy et al; the training of economists, Anne Krueger; the influence of economists, Michael Keating. Part 2 Case studies: the case of financial deregulation - economic rationalism on trial, Ian Harper and Phillip Leslie; comments, Kenneth Davidson; international trade and Australian protectionism, Kym Anderson; comments, Vince Fitzgerald; labour-market reform - an economist's perspective, Judith Sloan; comments, Joe Isaac; privatization and market forces - their role in infrastructure provision, Henry Ergas; comments, Stephen King; competition policy and economic rationalism, Allen Fels and Jill walker; comments, Peter Swan; natural resource use and environmental policy, Ben Smith; comments, Alan Moran; economic rationalism and the earnings dispersion, R.G. Gregory and G.L. Woodbridge; comments, Ann Harding; Australia's long-run macroeconomic performance, Steve Dowrick; comments, Stephen Grenville; market failure and government failure, Jonathon Pincus; comments, John Quiggin. Part 3 A politician's view: economic rationalism? economic policies for the nineties, Peter Walsh.