Dec 2 2008, 3:45 AM
Having concentrated in economics in undergraduate studies, I know enough about economics to know how much there is that I don't know.
In light of that, I wonder about what bright economists might feel about comments that bright (but not educated in economics) scientists and engineers such as myself make about the economy. Specifically, whether those feelings might be similar to the feelings that myself and others had towards Sarah Palin's comments about fruit fly research.
2008-12-02 04:26:26
Jacob
Er, I just realized this has potentially awkward timing. Okie, this was not meant to be addressed towards you or your post about the economy.
2009-02-02 21:41:34
dad
I think that economists are not interested. There are interdisciplinary outlooks that have been presented some time ago, ie\"Limits to Growth\". They might agree that economics cannot approach problems like scientific disciplines but refuse to look at proven science for examples, ie. nature. It is quite easy to observe how things grow and decline in the natural world. It is also quite politically unpopular to do so. I read this in 1970 an thought it made sense. Think it still does. You will find that anytime one points out problems that are difficult to resolve they will instantly fall out of credibility lest there would be some difficult work to be done. Read it, or a recent book that revisits 30 years down the road. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limits_to_Growth
heard this tonight on the radio a bit more in line with what I think...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100018973
2009-02-04 20:35:43
dad
The point being that \"Limits to Growth\" was successfully dismissed because it missed the mark on many of the numbers and of course its models were not perfect. That made it easy to also dismiss the fundamental principles put forth.