But Congress can get a lot done without getting into theological battles over whether we are taxed too much or not enough.

FORBES: Congress May Not Rewrite the Tax Code in 2013, But They Can Make It Simpler

Granted, Mr Rodrik is correct to point out areas where economic research has been lacking: too much time has been spent poring over the statistical link between trade and wages, for example, and not enough on the broader effects of trade on labour markets.

ECONOMIST: Second thoughts about globalisation

"There is too much attention over and over on those brands that really have started to make changes" in the West, and not enough focus on lesser-known Asia brands that also serve giant markets, said Jill Tucker, chief technical adviser at Better Factories Cambodia, a project of the International Labour Organization that works to improve factory conditions in the Southeast Asian country.

WSJ: 3 Die in Cambodia Factory Collapse