The Economist's poll of economists: Examining the candidates

T

TseTse

Veteran X
One of the older publications on the planet & the leading defenders of free trade... :sunny:

D4008US1.jpg


Examining the candidates - The Economist
Oct 2nd, 2008

In our special report on the election we analyse the two candidates’ economic plans. Here, we ask professional economists to give us their views

AS THE financial crisis pushes the economy back to the top of voters’ concerns, Barack Obama is starting to open up a clear lead over John McCain in the opinion polls. But among those who study economics for a living, Mr Obama’s lead is much more commanding. A survey of academic economists by The Economist finds the majority—at times by overwhelming margins—believe Mr Obama has the superior economic plan, a firmer grasp of economics and will appoint better economic advisers.

CUS955.gif


Eighty per cent of respondents and no fewer than 71% of those who do not cleave to either main party say Mr Obama has a better grasp of economics. Even among Republican [economists] Mr Obama has the edge: 46% versus 23% say Mr Obama has the better grasp of the subject.

“I take McCain’s word on this one,” comments James Harrigan at the University of Virginia, a reference to Mr McCain’s infamous confession that he does not know as much about economics as he should.
Click to expand...

I predict all the diehard GOP'rs will:

1. flame me and avoid discussing the facts

2. pretend this survey was "liberal media bias" - even tho 71% of the independent respondents said obama and even tho the REPUBLICAN economists still preferred obama :lol:

3. proceed with just calling obama a socialist, muslim & terrorist
 
We have someone getting their Ph.D in Economics on this forum. He has said and I concur after looking into the details, Obama's not for free trade but fair trade.

Something that could in the long-term hurt our economy.

A true trained economist doesn't know the difference between right/left. Economists who are into political decisions are policy economists and really degrade the term economics.
 
so let me get this straight

a sample of:

45% democrats
45% independent (self-proclaimed)
10% republican

which is, suffice it to say, wildly out of proportion with norm national ratios,

get this - they don't like john mccain? I am shocked.

You know what, im not even mad at you tsetse. You shoudl be expected to present wildly inaccurate statistics to shape your world view.

The economist as a journalistic operation should at least try polling somewhere outside the DNC headquarters.
 
^ did i predict triple or what? :lol:

Too bad he didnty read it and only sought data to try to pathetically discredit this survey. MOST OF THE REPUBLICAN ECONOMISTS STILL SUPPORTED OBAMA, TRIPLE.

Ender said:
We have someone getting their Ph.D in Economics on this forum. He has said and I concur after looking into the details, Obama's not for free trade but fair trade.

Something that could in the long-term hurt our economy.

A true trained economist doesn't know the difference between right/left. Economists who are into political decisions are policy economists and really degrade the term economics.
Click to expand...

Um, that assumes you can extract economics from everything else, as if it's pure math and not part of policy, politics, psychology, societal stuff, etc. That's a very narrow academic view of economics... not a "true trained" one.

That said, i think i would say that most economists regardless of their ideology on that stuff... would not fit our mainstream american views of left/right. Even those claiming to be democrats would likely be fiscally far more conservative than most on the left. Similarly, those leaning right might have progressive views on social issues.
 
Last edited:
Triple's predicted response: :lol:

1. those independents are not REAL independents because 71% say they support Obama which means they CANNOT BE INDEPENDENT by definition

2. even tho the REPUBLICAN economists preferred Obama's plan, that just means they are not really republicans and are probably DNC plants
 
Like I said, im not trying to argue your statistics, im just trying to put them in context. You take a poll on a college campus and you're going to get a 10% republican sample. And even the republicans will probably be a bit moderate. That sounds about right.

Now, I just got my 4 year degree, im not a fancy pants "real policy stuff" guy like you are, but yea. Its college. I know how it is.
 
Keep up the good work, Triple.

Nobody is better at denying inconvenient reality & facts than you.

triple said:
oh, there you go, I missed that line. Academic economists, aka college professors.
Click to expand...

It's funny how you're proving that you didnt READ this before responding. :lol:


Research associates of the National Bureau of Economic Research, America’s premier association of applied academic economists.
 
Conservatism doesn't have to be based on trickle-down economics. Even Bush Sr. thought the concept was foolish.

Go back to your roots and people like me might follow you there.

State government over centralized government. Social libertarianism. Balanced budgets. Skepticism of being involved in foreign affairs.

Get the hell out of bizarro world.
 
Research associates of the National Bureau of Economic Research,
Click to expand...

comments James Harrigan at the University of Virginia,
Click to expand...

and:

Our survey is not, by any means, a scientific poll of all economists. We e-mailed a questionnaire to 683 research associates, all we could track down, of the National Bureau of Economic Research, America’s premier association of applied academic economists, though the NBER itself played no role in the survey. A total of 142 responded, of whom 46% identified themselves as Democrats, 10% as Republicans and 44% as neither. This skewed party breakdown may reflect academia’s Democratic tilt, or possibly Democrats’ greater propensity to respond.
Click to expand...

oh look, 2nd paragraph, the economist is.. uh agreeing with me? Funny how you omit that.

And, as an aside, its easy to predict what your opponent's argument will be when the holes in your own argument are big enough to fly a C-5 through. If you make an argument in which you can predict the lines of attack from the opposing side, its not a very good argument. You just admitted that inadvertently. Congrats.
 
Last edited:
^ :lol: @ triple's "but they are applied ACADEMICS!"
willy_nilly.gif


endGame said:
Conservatism doesn't have to be based on trickle-down economics.
Click to expand...

Indeed.

Nor does it imply all the "social conservatism" of american politics. Thus, economic right vs left often has little to do with american right vs left.

After all, which party has ACTUALLY spent more and increased govt in the last 30 years?

Obama's tax plan is a bigger tax break for most americans whereas Mccain is a trickle-down gift for the top 1%.
 
Last edited:
triple said:
oh look, 2nd paragraph, the economist is.. uh agreeing with me? Funny how you omit that.

And, as an aside, its easy to predict what your opponent's argument will be when the holes in your own argument are big enough to fly a C-5 through. If you make an argument in which you can predict the lines of attack from the opposing side, its not a very good argument. You just admitted that inadvertently. Congrats.
Click to expand...

Why dont you actually read the fucking thing before replying 10 times and making a further ass out of yourself? They broke the data down in multiple ways AND EVEN THE REPUBLICAN ECONOMISTS FAVORED OBAMA. :rofl:

Keep trying to pretend this is "biased" tho.

All 3 categories of economists favored Obama over Mccain. Period.

You can freak out about how they are applied academics and try to obsess on that point, or perhaps start to read the fucking article and wonder WHY they all are sayign what they say (you know, actually learn about the issues outside the context of partisan talking points for once in your fucking life)
 
yes economist say that taking more money from businesses and rich people is going to make those people invest more.

good read tse, you are right on like usual.
 
Apearently you havent noticed but I am going to be a father of a beautiful baby. My repugnant baby mama is pregnant. I will be a father, Cherish the Moment. Me, father, I sayeth No Obama, Coon King, Robbin Hood. How do I raise my baby momma's babby if Obama take my money? How do I raise babby with no money? How do I raise it? How do I raise with no money, taken away by Coonio and Gangster's Parasites (The Libs 666). Community leader this: YOu Are Nothing. STUCK UP BITCH!!!
 
munkkikuorma said:
Apearently you havent noticed but I am going to be a father of a beautiful baby. My repugnant baby mama is pregnant. I will be a father, Cherish the Moment. Me, father, I sayeth No Obama, Coon King, Robbin Hood. How do I raise my baby momma's babby if Obama take my money? How do I raise babby with no money? How do I raise it? How do I raise with no money, taken away by Coonio and Gangster's Parasites (The Libs 666). Community leader this: YOu Are Nothing. STUCK UP BITCH!!!
Click to expand...

Close regs...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top