'They went on to explain that instead of presenting a broad introduction to economics, Mankiw's teaching was narrowly focused, did not offer alternative approaches to orthodox economic models and ultimately was complicit in perpetuating systemic global inequality. . .

These students are frustrated by a field that they believe could provide so much to society but instead is mired in outmoded thinking. Today's economics is dominated by ideas, like the efficient market hypothesis, making such sweeping generalizations that they render human beings practically unrecognizable. Do people ever have "perfect information" or a complete understanding of their best interests? Of course not. They're humans. . .

Why is this happening, and why now? Obviously, the global financial crisis brought the failures of the economics profession into stark relief. But there still hasn't been a significant public movement of established professional economists away from orthodox theories. However, as the pernicious effects of instability and inequality become part of daily life, frustration with stale economic ideas is starting to turn into action — at least on the part of some.

So this is where economics finds itself today, stuck between failed methodologies and whispered realities. It can continue to produce elegant theorems that work only by ignoring obvious real-world situations and conditions. Or it can break free of its restrictions and apply its rigor to addressing society's most intractable problems.

The choice is up to the economics establishment. But the revolution has begun.'