Category Archives: Methodology

UK policy wonks following Troppo in saying the lock downs were a mistake (but hiding the message a bit)

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Paul Frijters

Here at Clubtroppo, we have been saying for well over a month now that a quick look at the economic damage and the health damage of the responses to the corona virus tells you they dwarf the possible benefits of … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus crisis, Death and taxes, Health, History, Methodology, Social Policy, Society | 12 Comments

Is it the social scientists job (or anyone else’s) to make models of reality? (Hint: no).

Posted on September 15, 2019 by Nicholas Gruen

There is still, I think, not enough recognition by teachers of the fact that the desire to think – which is fundamentally a moral problem – must be induced before the power is developed. Most people, whether men or women, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Methodology, Philosophy, Political theory | 5 Comments

My presentation in London

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Nicholas Gruen

Herewith my presentation in London “Economic reform thinking as if we’d bothered to do it” and Martin Wolf’s commentary on it beginning at around the 40 minute mark. Judging from audience comments, a good time was had by all. You can download … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Innovation, Methodology, Philosophy, Political theory | 2 Comments

The Norms of Science: Extract from Paul Romer

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Nicholas Gruen

I was looking for something on economic method, and found this section of Paul Romer’s “The Trouble with Macroeconomics” which I thought was worth posting. Some of the economists who agree about the state of macro in private conversations will not … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Methodology, Science | 16 Comments

The middleware of democracy. Or from knowledge to wisdom: or at least knowledge 2.0

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Nicholas Gruen

Simon Heffer’s High Minds presents us with a portrait of the mid-Victorians in which they consciously set about building the world which became ours. A liberal democratic world. To do so they recognised the need for all sorts of public … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Critique, Innovation, Methodology, Philosophy, Political theory, Public and Private Goods | 14 Comments

Thoughts on “Thinking, fast and slow”

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Paul Frijters

I couldn’t resist buying a copy of Daniel Kahneman’s best-seller when returning from holidays. Several friends and colleagues told me it was a great book; it got great reviews; and Kahneman’s journal articles are invariably a good read, so I … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Education, Geeky Musings, Information, Life, Literature, Methodology, Philosophy, Science, Social, Society | 10 Comments

If our models are correct, then people are smarter than we realised!

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Richard Tsukamasa Green

Whilst making pies yesterday I happened to recall a sentence I read 7 or so years ago, which suddenly struck me as very silly. So I just looked it up to make sure I hadn’t imagined it. I didn’t. Here’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Methodology | 7 Comments