They have office politics; they have any number of other motivations.

"It should not be a political issue, but one of good science and good ethics," he said.

There are some in this audience who will say: Yes, that may be what they want, but that' s politics not economics.

Of course, there is always the danger that a call for more research can be used as an excuse for political inaction in the meantime.

For once, then, the politics of gesture may be positive rather than negative.