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Why does a public discussion of economic policy so often show the abysmal ignorance of the participants?
Robert Solow
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the lack of understanding among individuals discussing economic policy.

Robert Solow's quote questions the frequent ineptitude and misunderstanding exhibited by people engaging in public discussions about economic policy. It suggests that despite the significance of these discussions, many participants may lack the necessary knowledge or expertise, which can lead to misguided opinions and ineffective policy deliberation.

Themes

EconomicsPolicyIgnoranceDiscussionPublic Opinion

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate on national economic policy, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of informed discussions.

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There is not some glorious theoretical synthesis of capitalism that you can write down in a book and follow. You have to grope your way
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