Bryan Caplan wrote: > > You sound like someone who likes Japanese food complaining that there > > are too many Chinese restaurants in your area. Maybe you are really > > just unhappy with the preferences of the consumers around you. > >That's most of the story, but you are missing a key difference. Most >academics SAY they are seeking truth, not personal entertainment. >Moreover, if this point were widely admitted, a lot of the funding would >probably disappear. > >Perhaps Pete is more like someone who likes Japanese food complaining >that the "Japanese" restaurants are really serving Chinese food.
I've heard that "Mexican" restaurants in the U.S. serve food quite different from that served in Mexico, and similarly for "Chinese" food. Has widespread knowledge of this much reduced demand for such products? I'm skeptical that funding would be reduced more than 20%. Has the demand for TV or radio ads been diminished by widespread knowledge that the ad-maker's purpose is not primarily promoting truth? And why should they admit it if their purpose is producing prestige? Robin Hanson [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hanson.gmu.edu Asst. Prof. Economics, George Mason University MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030-4444 703-993-2326 FAX: 703-993-2323
