Isabella Weber, an economist based at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, is calling for a shift in how economic policy is formulated. Drawing on a comparison originally made by John Maynard Keynes, Weber suggests that economists should act more like dentists—prioritizing the immediate relief of societal 'pain' over the rigid application of economic theory.

Weber argues that the current status quo is failing to address severe symptoms affecting the public. She contends that the obsession with ideological purity often prevents economists from implementing effective, real-world solutions. By framing economic challenges as urgent issues of 'people’s dignity' and 'democracy,' she positions her approach as a necessary departure from traditional, dogmatic economic thinking. While the report highlights her perspective on the need for flexibility, it does not detail specific policy proposals or counter-arguments from economists who might defend the importance of established economic frameworks.