Alexander Tabarrok wrote: > I think Robin exaggerates the extent to which social science would be >easier if we could just ask people why they do things. To be sure, >there is a tradition in economics that survey results about intentions >and ideas ... are not to be trusted. I agree this tradition is overdone >... Much of economics, however, concerns effects which are no part of >anyone's intention ...
Fair enough. I guess many of the questions I'm most interested in, including many "armchair" type questions, are about why people do the things they do. For example, why go to school or hire someone from school, why go to the doctor, why so risk averse regarding stock investments, etc. 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
