The lamppost theory: Why economic policy so often comes up short
with Alan Blinder, Rep. Jamie Raskin, and Vin Weber
Past Event
At a moment when the Trump administration has relegated economists to the back rows, it’s a good time to ask why economists don’t have more influence on politicians, and why politicians find economists so frustrating. Visiting scholar Alan Blinder argues that politicians use economics the way a drunk uses a lamppost—for support, not for illumination. Blinder contends that politicians and economists succeed or fail on entirely different Darwinian principles—they hail from “two civilizations.”
On June 20, Blinder, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), and Vin Weber discussed the lamppost theory (the subject of Blinder’s forthcoming book), what politicians and economists can learn from each other, and what this all means for the prospects for tax reform in 2017. After a moderated discussion, the speakers took questions from the audience.
Agenda
Remarks
Alan Blinder
Gordon S. Rentschler Memorial Professor of Economics - Princeton University
Former Brookings Expert
Session Materials
Panel discussion and Q&A
David Wessel
Director - The Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy
Senior Fellow - Economic Studies
Alan Blinder
Gordon S. Rentschler Memorial Professor of Economics - Princeton University
Former Brookings Expert
Rep. Jamie Raskin
Representative for the 8th District of Maryland - U.S. House of Representatives
Vin Weber
Partner - Mercury, LLC
More Information
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