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Bad Science and Bad Economics


I highly recommend the debate that is going on between Paul Krugman and the men who wrote Freakonomics about global warming. There are lots of other people involved, but the best place to start is here. Then read this post and this post and this post. Make sure you follow as many links as possible, including the replies from the authors of Freakonomics themselves. It's very interesting reading. Krugman, as usual, is devastating.


Sean Paul Kelley October 18, 2009 - 4:58pm
Sean Paul Kelley's diary | printer friendly version | digg
( categories: Environment | Global Warming )

I'm pro-choice and I never

I'm pro-choice and I never bought into their argument that Roe lowered crime. /shrug

Lesly October 18, 2009 - 10:32pm
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only possibility I can see in that

is that legalization turned a number of women away from 'back-alley abortions' towards the safer clinics. Still, I'd be unsure that this would have had any effect at all on the 'Index' offenses--murder, theft, rape, burglary.
-5.75,-4.05
"God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time." -- Robin Williams

justadood October 19, 2009 - 9:25am
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Most of the time economists don't even get ...

... a prognosis in their own field right. Why should anybody listen to them when they bloviate about an area that they have no expertise in whatsoever?

quax October 19, 2009 - 9:21am
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data analysis

So they did a hack job in a field (not their own) in which data are well documented and highly analyzed by specialists. These specialists, who have been under much scrutiny themselves might have a bit of a sensitive spot, caught the shoddy work and responded. My question is; Are they equally lax in their own field, with data that is far far fuzzier therefore no one to really police the assertions?

Regarding the violent crime, i have found the reduction in leaded paint and gasoline to be far more compelling.

As a final note, I can't help but enjoy a bit of schadenfreude. I had a hard time finishing any of their articles for all of the self-congratulation they heap upon themselves.

snoeleopard October 19, 2009 - 1:06pm
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