Study: Self-Identified "Progressives" Have Little Understanding of Economics

#101
#101
volinbham said:
Actually, I think economics as a discipline is much broader than what we typically discuss (e.g. markets/business/commerce). At it's core, it is about understanding human decision making with a bias towards "rational or logical" mechanisms driving such behavior.

We have an economist who studies "happiness". Freakenomics is a good example - application of economic decision making theories across all manner of human decisions.

That said, I can't say if most economists are classical liberals (e.g. free traders). Hell, look at Bam's uncle P. Krugman - hard to say he's from classic liberalism.
Click to expand...

Never thought about it like that before, but it makes a lot of sense.

Interesting too about Tim Geitner. I believed he graduated from the Chicago School of Economics, one of the most heavily bias free market schools of thought in the country, yet he works for one of the most progressive administrations in at least the last half century. It's hard to say with his educational background he adheres to progressive bottom up economics.
 
#102
#102
51% believe that mandatory licensing of professionals (i.e., reducing the supply of professionals) doesn’t increase the cost of professional services.
Click to expand...

This is a somewhat curious example. When do you ever hear it in a real-world public policy debate?
 
#103
#103
lawgator1 said:
That's not the point. He may well be right in all of his opinions. Every single one of them.

What I maintain, and what every other thinking person should agree with, is that it is not right to ask loaded questions, knowing that you will have a break along ideologicial lines, assume that your version of the question is correct, and therefore paint the people on the other side as sicentifically proven to be idiots.

Its disgusting. It is ANTI-scientific. It is educational and academic fraud.
Click to expand...

I have never seen any kind of poll that some people would not consider asking "loaded" questions. It is all a matter of interpretation and definations.
It is scientific if the questions were asked to a scientific sample of persons.
 
#104
#104
There's an article in the WSJ that illuminates these findings a bit and addresses some of the perceived problems with the questions.

The answer options were strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree and strongly disagree. As a result, these answers allow for the "it depends" aspect of some questions. The economic principles as represented in the questions are generally true and accepted. If you are a "it is generally true" person you could answer either of the affirmative.

If you are a strongly disagree you either don't know the principle or you are letting your political views cloud your understanding of economics.
 
#105
#105
Or allowing your political view to a) justify in your mind asking a loaded question with a presumed correct answer and a presumed alternative answer that you hope and intend will be chosen by a group you set up to self-characterize the way you want them to be, and then b) have "peer reviewed" in a publication that has an agenda, by people who share the agenda, and then fool people by saying "the phrase 'peer reviewed' gives this some credibility," but not really explaining to those who don't know any better that "peer review" is only as good as the reviewers, who again share the agenda of the survey group and the publication.

The thing is complete and utter crap.
 
#106
#106
lawgator1 said:
Or allowing your political view to a) justify in your mind asking a loaded question with a presumed correct answer and a presumed alternative answer that you hope and intend will be chosen by a group you set up to self-characterize the way you want them to be, and then b) have "peer reviewed" in a publication that has an agenda, by people who share the agenda, and then fool people by saying "the phrase 'peer reviewed' gives this some credibility," but not really explaining to those who don't know any better that "peer review" is only as good as the reviewers, who again share the agenda of the survey group and the publication.

The thing is complete and utter crap.
Click to expand...

The answer is not "presumed" it is correct. You refusal to believe in economic principles doesn't mean they are not well established and virtually universally accepted in the field.
 
#107
#107
you only think it's crap because you too don't understand a lick of economics. and that fact has NOTHING to do with your political views. hell o'reilly is a complete tard when it comes to economics. no offense.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top