The goal of people doing basic research in math and science is not producing more economic value. They really do it just for fun. If what they do happen to be useful for others outside their club, great, but that's never the goal. They might twist words a little to get grants. Historically, their work has been useful. ;)
I wouldn’t say they do it for fun, but to understand. A lot of science isn’t fun, but understanding is it’s own reward that lasts a lot longer than fun.
