(06-06-2011 03:15 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I suppose we could do a controlled experiment with 2 countries that are exactly the same and implement 2 different policies, and see which one does better. Oh that's right, we can't. Until then, we have no idea whether we'd be worse off or better off with different policies (or no policy at all). Which is why few economists agree with themselves never mind other economists.

Disagree. We have comparable situations from this recession to the one of the late 70's. We have presidents of opposing parties elected in each one and diametrically different approaches to them. We can compare the success of one at this point against the other.

(06-06-2011 03:15 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I suppose we could do a controlled experiment with 2 countries that are exactly the same and implement 2 different policies, and see which one does better. Oh that's right, we can't. Until then, we have no idea whether we'd be worse off or better off with different policies (or no policy at all). Which is why few economists agree with themselves never mind other economists.

Curious, we can't do those tests w/ Evolutionary theory or AGW, yet many insist they're true.

In this circumstance, as Ninerfan points out, we have very comparable situations we can use in analysis than anything associated w/ those other subjects, and yet you say we can't know these things.

So which is it?

(06-06-2011 03:15 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I suppose we could do a controlled experiment with 2 countries that are exactly the same and implement 2 different policies, and see which one does better.why few economists agree with themselves never mind other economists.

We do it here all the time. Look at the states. Where are jobs moving to? Where are they leaving?

(06-06-2011 03:50 PM)Rebel Wrote:  

(06-06-2011 03:15 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I suppose we could do a controlled experiment with 2 countries that are exactly the same and implement 2 different policies, and see which one does better.why few economists agree with themselves never mind other economists.

We do it here all the time. Look at the states. Where are jobs moving to? Where are they leaving?

But how do you pin it down on the president's policies? If a company moves because they're paying too much to unions that have been in place for decades, e.g. Or labor is cheaper in a different market - rural vs. urban, e.g. There are just so many factors and the president's policies are a relatively new factor and only one of many.

(06-06-2011 03:38 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(06-06-2011 03:15 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I suppose we could do a controlled experiment with 2 countries that are exactly the same and implement 2 different policies, and see which one does better. Oh that's right, we can't. Until then, we have no idea whether we'd be worse off or better off with different policies (or no policy at all). Which is why few economists agree with themselves never mind other economists.

Curious, we can't do those tests w/ Evolutionary theory or AGW, yet many insist they're true.

In this circumstance, as Ninerfan points out, we have very comparable situations we can use in analysis than anything associated w/ those other subjects, and yet you say we can't know these things.

So which is it?

Those have been studied for decades and we're not trying to pin conclusions on something that's only been happening for 3 years.

(06-06-2011 05:54 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(06-06-2011 03:38 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(06-06-2011 03:15 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I suppose we could do a controlled experiment with 2 countries that are exactly the same and implement 2 different policies, and see which one does better. Oh that's right, we can't. Until then, we have no idea whether we'd be worse off or better off with different policies (or no policy at all). Which is why few economists agree with themselves never mind other economists.

Curious, we can't do those tests w/ Evolutionary theory or AGW, yet many insist they're true.

In this circumstance, as Ninerfan points out, we have very comparable situations we can use in analysis than anything associated w/ those other subjects, and yet you say we can't know these things.

So which is it?

Those have been studied for decades and we're not trying to pin conclusions on something that's only been happening for 3 years.

Economics has been studied for centuries.

Your epistemology needs some work.