Neuroeconomics: reliable, scientifically legitimate and useful knowledge for economists?

Thanks to the joint collaboration of economics, psychology, and neuroscience from the late 1990s, "neuroeconomics" sheds new light on decision-making analysis. As with any emerging discipline, however, neuroeconomics raises many practical and methodological questions resulting in debates and controversies that this article discusses by addressing three major issues concerning the contribution made so far to knowledge: Is it reliable? Is it scientifically legitimate? Is it useful for the economist? Without claiming to be exhaustive, this analytical framework enables understanding of the thrust of the major criticisms of neuroeconomics and at the same time the nature of the likely responses.