Surveying Economists
The results of a new survey of members of the American Economic Association suggest that the Show-Me Institute is in good company.
The survey finds economists in consensus on several key policy issues:
- 51.6 percent agree: “The U.S. should place more stringent caps on medical malpractice awards.”
- 63.7 percent agree: “Barriers to entering the medical profession should be reduced.”
- 78.3 percent agree: “Government subsidies on ethanol in the U.S. should be” reduced at least somewhat.
- 42.4 percent agree: “State governments in the U.S. should eliminate mandates about what health insurance must cover.”
- 62 percent disagree: “Employers in the U.S. should be required to provide health insurance to their full-time employees.”
Other interesting results:
- 83.3 percent agree: “The U.S. should eliminate remaining tariffs and other barriers to trade.”
- 70.3 percent agree: “The U.S. should allow payments to organ donors and their families.”
Hey I found your blog today linked from Human Events. I really like what I see. I’ll be sure to regularly stop in.
I am a 26 year old grad student from Chicago and I have a humble little blog of my own (A Voice in the Wilderness) and here’s my latest piece:
rjmoeller.com…et-it-obama/
Keep up the good work. Thanks and God bless!
-RJM
Comment by RJ — September 18, 2009 @ 3:01 p.m.
This is surprising that 50+% were on freemarket side of all these questions. however you cherry picked results. there are as many questions where they had typical establishment views:
increase benefits to laid off workers? 51% agree, 28% disagree
curbside recycling should be mandatory? 58% agree, 25% disagree
internet should be taxed? 56% agree, 25% disagree
casinos are bad for society? 53% agree, 17% disagree
Comment by vroman — September 29, 2009 @ 11:51 a.m.
I think just because you say “casinos are bad for society”, it does not necessarily follow that you want to criminalize gambling. I think casinos are terrible for society, and I hate how state and local governments benefit from them and come to depend on them. However, I certainly don’t think general gambling should be illegal. So I guess I am with the economists on this one, but I agree with Vroman’s points on the whole.
Comment by David Stokes — September 30, 2009 @ 12:01 a.m.
how are casinos qualitatively different than any other entertainment ppl spend money on?
Comment by vroman — October 2, 2009 @ 12:25 p.m.