The Economics and Econometrics sub-panel for the 2008 RAE in the United Kingdom seems to have delineated the range of material it will consider for evaluation and it includes all empirical, theoretical, strategic, applied and policy-focus research. Thus it appears that the history of economic thought is not part of the material it will deem suitable for the panel to evaluate. On the other hand, it may be possible for publications in the history of economic thought to be submitted to the history sub-panel under the area of history of ideas or history of science; and it may be possible for publications in the history of economics to be submitted to the sociology sub-panel under the area of social studies of science. However, these options seem to suggest that the history of economic thought and history of economics is not considered to be appropriate material for economics and for economists to engage in. Therefore in the context of the RAE, the "rational" British academic economist should stop doing research in HET and history of economics and hence should stop publishing such research (and maybe even stop going HET conferences and subscribing to HET journals? On the other hand, if a British economist wants to pursue this type of research and publications, they should move to history and sociology departments where it would be acceptable (at least according to the RAE criteria)? But this would mean that the British economists who made such a move would perhaps cease to be an economist. Comments on my observations and queries are welcome. Below are links to the various relevant documents: http://www.rae.ac.uk/pubs/2006/01/byuoa.asp?u=i http://www.rae.ac.uk/pubs/2006/01/byuoa.asp?u=n http://www.rae.ac.uk/pubs/2006/01/byuoa.asp?u=j http://www.rae.ac.uk/ Fred Lee