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Assorted links
1. Weekly word cloud from the econ blogs.
2. China mixed messages of the day.
3. Is Obama leaning toward a health care mandate?
4. Only six percent of TV stimulus commentators are economists.
5. Puffins on YouTube, with Icelandic puffin souvenirs.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on February 24, 2009 at 04:08 PM in Web/Tech | Permalink
Comments
Considering that economists have thus far failed to present a coherent explanation as to why their favored policy choices range across the spectrum, why should we care about the percentage of economist-commentators on TV? They hardly seem any more expert than the bloviators.
Posted by: Dave at Feb 24, 2009 4:30:55 PM
I didn't see the words "on", "other" or "hand" although maybe I didn't look hard enough.
Posted by: mgs at Feb 24, 2009 4:33:32 PM
What percentage of commenters on homicides are people who have been convicted of murder? That's probably even lower than 6%
Posted by: zbicyclist at Feb 24, 2009 4:39:16 PM
3. A 'mandate'...'sort of'
These D.B.'s draw a dark line between subsidy and mandate, then they call it 'nudging' and await applause and Nobel prizes.
And at the end of the day, the only tool in his toolbox is forcing people to do what he prefers. Change. Hmmmpf.
So, I might not have a "mandate" to get a low-quality, superfluous, incentive to have unnecessary procedures, but how much of a "nudge" in the rear pocket am I going to have to resist to go my own, rational way?
Get ready for the health-care bubble.
Posted by: Andrew at Feb 24, 2009 4:41:24 PM
Favorite line from #2:
"Affordability can be acheived through subsidies."
Kind of like how subsidizing housing made it more affordable?
Posted by: Jim at Feb 24, 2009 5:02:14 PM
Make that #3.
Posted by: Jim at Feb 24, 2009 5:04:24 PM
What percentage of politicians deciding our healthcare future are economists or doctors?
Posted by: Andrew at Feb 24, 2009 5:16:48 PM
Where did they get the idea that Amity Shlaes is an economist?
Posted by: Bernard Yomtov at Feb 24, 2009 5:54:13 PM
"She is a senior fellow in economic history at the Council on Foreign Relations."
Anyone in the CFR is an economist, historian, as well as defense and foreign policy expert. Not sure if they are medical experts or not.
Posted by: Andrew at Feb 24, 2009 6:10:12 PM
Is "evidence" anywhere in the cloud?
Posted by: Jeff H. at Feb 24, 2009 6:16:36 PM
Andrew,
Potent organization, that CFR. They can turn anyone into a scholar by declaring them a "fellow."
Posted by: Bernard Yomtov at Feb 24, 2009 6:48:30 PM
I think they are most of them climatologists as well. They may in fact be the only generalist experts qualified to make quick decisions based on scant data that affects the entire planet in perpetuity. They transcend humility and have no interest in self-interest. They are badass.
But seriously, is the problem with appeal to authority fallacy the authority, or the fallacy? Yes?
Posted by: Andrew at Feb 24, 2009 7:06:21 PM
Yeah, Puffins are back!
Posted by: at Feb 24, 2009 7:17:11 PM
Whoops, looks like puffins are going away....
Posted by: at Feb 24, 2009 7:20:02 PM
We have all the geniuses and economists running around who are going to fix the banking system in a matter of months because the bankers who were working on their stuff for years don't understand the $hi+storm they got themselves into.
Now, before the financial system is straight they are going to go ahead and fix the medical system.
Posted by: Andrew at Feb 24, 2009 8:46:17 PM
I agree with the comments here. I can't see any reason to have economists on, because those people (waves hand vaguely in that direction) didn't warn me and haven't fix this. I don't want studied opinion and knowledge, especially if it's imperfect. It's far more entertaining to listen to Coulter or Begala, or in their absence the "economics reporter" who who at best might have a 4-year journalism degree.
If you can't perfectly inform me in 30 seconds, I'd rather be entertained.
Hey, did you hear what Kate Winslet's 8-year-old said about her Oscar dress? She HATED it! OMG! LOL!
Posted by: MM at Feb 24, 2009 9:27:18 PM
MM,
Nice. But, until all the economists start saying things similar to what John Hussman is saying, then they will be performing a service by dusting their diplomas.
It's not about credentials, it's about being right.
Posted by: Andrew at Feb 24, 2009 11:16:41 PM
Television media consumers don't demand economist's comments? I'm shocked! I'm certain they'd be told what they want to hear!
Posted by: Michael at Feb 25, 2009 1:18:54 AM
Only six percent of TV stimulus commentators are economists.
Six precent too many. Why worthless self-important pseudo-scientists should be present at all?
Economists should do what Cowen does, write about Islandian food.
Posted by: Mick at Feb 25, 2009 3:05:59 AM
Puffins on Fidra.
http://www.seabird.org/webcam-fidra.asp
Posted by: dearieme at Feb 25, 2009 4:12:35 AM
Hey, did you hear what Kate Winslet's 8-year-old said about her Oscar dress? She HATED it! OMG! LOL!
Winner.
Puffins on Fidra.
http://www.seabird.org/webcam-fidra.asp
2nd place.
Posted by: at Feb 25, 2009 8:44:51 AM
Are the economists saying anything smarter than the non-economists?
Are they proposing spending out past 2010? Why?
Are they proposing permanent government jobs? Why?
Are they talking about reducing burdens on small businesses?
Do they have a plan to stop foreclosures?
Are they talking about flaws in accounting such as Mark-to-Market, or explaining why that's not a problem if they think it's not?
Are they asking why we need lots of lending when noone wants to borrow to spend or invest?
What about inflation once this cycle remedies itself? Where is the next bubble?
I don't care who addresses these correctly, economist or not.
Posted by: Andrew at Feb 25, 2009 1:17:25 PM
