I asked the Austrian president A. Van der Bellen, who, in a previous life, was a professor of economics (social choice theory) at UVienna, what about his academic experience was most useful in politics. His answer: (1/3)

The way in which econ theory forces you to think clearly through the assumptions-proposition-proof structure. And how it teaches you to properly distinguish between correlation and causality, which he said even many smart and educated people can't do. (2/3)

Thanks to Economics. For Society. for organizing his talk and the dinner. (3/3)