The view amongst the economically literate left (the LSE?) when I was in the UK, was that lying about money to money-makers was counter productive.

I tend to think this is true. The economist doesn't project into quite the same mindset of outcome, so I still think (despite your polemic) it's less likely the fin randomly lies about things, but I'm prepared to consider it on it's merits if somebody gives me better reasons than what I am afraid is just .. ranting.

Chomsky makes the same point in his book "Manufacturing Consent": Economic papers report more truthfully than most because the truth is what their readers need to make decisions in the real world.

I find that pretty convincing and I do check out such papers occasionally for that reason.