I’ve been pondering the idea that “no economist” thinks there’s a tradeoff between pandemic control and economic health, in light of the fact that everyone else evidently thinks there is such a tradeoff.
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Strikes me that what economists conceive as a pro-social message in fact comes across as yet another example of their being out of touch.
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Plus I see we’re still harping on the idea that positing such a tradeoff, versus refusing to do so, is what distinguishes a “real economist” from someone who plays one on TV, and that this makes the idea that there isn’t a tradeoff the “consensus.”
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https://twitter.com/justinwolfers/status/1249151178803499008?s=21 https://twitter.com/justinwolfers/status/1249151178803499008

Do public health people posture in the same way about consensus and draw their disciplinary boundaries on the basis of ideology? My read is yes, actually, though it operates somewhat differently there.
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