| A challenge for our readers: the Fraser Institute is offering a $1,000 top prize for proposals on what economic or public policy issue it should try to measure. More information is here. Submit a brief essay or video with a clear thesis on what should be measured, why it should be measured, and how it might be measured. Let us know what you come up with! [%comments]
Calling All Freakonometricians
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In my mind, there is only one such economic and public policy issue that this and every other institute conservative or liberal should be measuring for the moment. Are Obama’s economic policies working (as far as the objectives that he set –how and how not? I am sure that Obama would be interested in really finding out– forget the politics for the moment- let’s talk reality testing- so that he can make the necessary adjustments for them to work for us all in the long run to benefit somewhat– If there are conservatives out there, who wants Obama (our president) to fail (as some suggest that there are), I am not one of them. I say you have lost sight of what can make this country real great– If there are liberals out there, who still think “free for all”–forget it– there are no real free lunchs–
Having acquired a bit of stock recently, I started doing my own monitoring of the different sides of the problem of the banking industry and one banks situation in particular. Weeks end- objectively things are very slightly better, subjectively dk- too soon to tell- so my suggestion would be– we all begin to take a bit of economic responsibility for out fate– as the start of holding Obama accountable to meeting his stated economic objectives — that won him our trust.
As far as the 1,000 prize is concerned- I would like that money to be given to someone who wants a college education and cannot pay for it.. Just kidding- since I have obviously not won it—yet–
I propose measuring the impact of universal health care coverage on the unemployment rate. One would expect to see that workers will spend more time searching rather than take a job “just for health coverage” and thus unemployment should rise if they can get health insurance without the job.
Why fuel economy declines with higher gasoline prices.
Measure the relationship between inequality and “happiness” possibly as measured by the human development index or whatever happiness index they have out there. (Maybe Fraiser could make a new one for themselves).