Comments on: Climate policy and the role of experts in decision-making http://vivekmohta.com/blog/2007/01/27/climate-policy-and-the-role-of-experts-in-decision-making/ Vivek Mohta's blog Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:49:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 by: Vivek Mohta http://vivekmohta.com/blog/2007/01/27/climate-policy-and-the-role-of-experts-in-decision-making/#comment-398 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 05:39:07 +0000 http://vivekmohta.com/blog/2007/01/27/climate-policy-and-the-role-of-experts-in-decision-making/#comment-398 Ben, In looking back at my post, I clearly should have included your point-- that the economy is also a complicated dynamical system and we ought to defer to economists on how we might expect the economy to evolve in response to policy choices. (There might be some challenges here in that, in general, there seems to be less consensus in economics than in the earth sciences.) Policy makers often don't understand either of the complexities or choose to ignore them. Perhaps more education is necessary or perhaps a culture of humility and respect for knowledge. I also agree that trade-offs must be presented in a way that the public understands. Rarely do policy choices have only an upside. A good political leader ought to be able to communicate trade-offs clearly and honestly to the public. Ben,
In looking back at my post, I clearly should have included your point– that the economy is also a complicated dynamical system and we ought to defer to economists on how we might expect the economy to evolve in response to policy choices. (There might be some challenges here in that, in general, there seems to be less consensus in economics than in the earth sciences.)

Policy makers often don’t understand either of the complexities or choose to ignore them. Perhaps more education is necessary or perhaps a culture of humility and respect for knowledge.

I also agree that trade-offs must be presented in a way that the public understands. Rarely do policy choices have only an upside. A good political leader ought to be able to communicate trade-offs clearly and honestly to the public.

]]> by: Ben http://vivekmohta.com/blog/2007/01/27/climate-policy-and-the-role-of-experts-in-decision-making/#comment-275 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:59:09 +0000 http://vivekmohta.com/blog/2007/01/27/climate-policy-and-the-role-of-experts-in-decision-making/#comment-275 Sort of, though I caution that the trade offs must be presented in a way that the public understands. Just like some ignore scientific consensus on climate change, most scientists are completely ignorant of and willfully ignore economic consensus on climate change economics. Many of Al Gore's proposed policies are incredibly economically wrong headed. Actually, the policies proposed by most policy makers are. Perhaps more education is necessary. Sort of, though I caution that the trade offs must be presented in a way that the public understands.

Just like some ignore scientific consensus on climate change, most scientists are completely ignorant of and willfully ignore economic consensus on climate change economics.

Many of Al Gore’s proposed policies are incredibly economically wrong headed. Actually, the policies proposed by most policy makers are.

Perhaps more education is necessary.

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