Economist today consider themselves as scientist because

As "The Moscow Times" states, "Why is it called a prize in "economic sciences," rather than just "economics"? The other prizes are not awarded in the "chemical sciences" or the "physical sciences."

Endeavors that use "science" in their titles tend to be those that get masses of people emotionally involved and in which crackpots seem to have some purchase on public opinion. These fields have "science" in their names to distinguish them from their disreputable cousins.