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Stimulus Contest
The WashingtonWatch.com blog is having a contest.
Take any part of the stimulus bill and write a short case for why it’s good or bad. (Recommended: search the bill for “$” - there are more than 350 of them.) Pick anything - from an entire government department to the smallest program. You can even pick a non-spending provision in the bill that you think will do good or bad.
Entries are limited to 150 words, and they will be judged on clarity, persuasiveness, creativity, and originality. You don’t have to be an economist - if you are, you really must avoid being boring. If it takes a haiku or an infomercial-style pitch to make your case, do it.
Winners will receive $100. Enter in the comments section here.
Posted by Alex Tabarrok on January 21, 2009 at 07:05 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink
Comments
Winners will receive $100.
If they were serious about fiscal responsibility, the winners would get 10% of the spending they demonstrated to be a bad idea.
Posted by: Bob Murphy at Jan 21, 2009 9:19:19 AM
My comment is awaiting moderation :(
I commented on SEC. 1108. Search for it when it finally gets approved! Hopefully I didn't make any stupid errors
Posted by: Robert Olson at Jan 21, 2009 10:57:59 AM
if you are [an economist], you really must avoid being boring.
That would make for a worthwhile contest all by itself!
Posted by: eddie at Jan 21, 2009 11:10:09 AM
This is like the old Foster and Catching contest -- the one calling for analysis of their thesis that under consumption and lack of demand undermines profits and investment.
I.e. the massively influential contest in the 1920s that inspired Hoover, Roosevelt, Sen. Wagner -- and eventually Hansen and Keynes, leading to modern Keynesian economics.
Posted by: Greg Ransom at Jan 21, 2009 1:07:34 PM
This is like the old Foster and Catching contest -- the one calling for analysis of their thesis that under consumption and lack of demand undermines profits and investment.
I.e. the massively influential contest in the 1920s that inspired Hoover, Roosevelt, Sen. Wagner -- and eventually Hansen and Keynes, leading to modern Keynesian economics.
Posted by: Greg Ransom at Jan 21, 2009 1:08:02 PM
it's clear that the prospect of a small prize properly deployed can cause an amount of activity which is disproportionate to the size of the prize. maybe this can be part of the theory of stimulus. is there a way to pitch a contest with a high "multiplier"?
Posted by: babar at Jan 21, 2009 2:19:04 PM
