The trouble with economics, though, is the assumption of the
   Rational Man at the center of it. When economics is utilized as
   a useful tool (talk about equivalent: UTILIZED... USEFUL ....
   TOOL .... that sentence fragment beats the point to death)....

   ...it can be helpful in decision-making. But answers requires
   not only a multitude of disciplines coming together, it
   ultimately requires going BEYOND any individual or combination
   of disciplines to get a "big picture"; which is, ultimately, a
   story that ties them together.

   Even THEN there's the application... and it's in the application
   that the rubber meets the road. Still, getting things perfected
   in models is very useful.