Lars P. Syll

Still the best movie trilogy of all time .[embedded content]

Sander Greenland on cognitive biases in science .[embedded content]

Nancy Cartwright’s Pufendorf lectures .[embedded content] Yours truly is fond of science philosophers like Nancy Cartwright. With razor-sharp intellects, they immediately go for the essentials. They have no time for bullshit. And neither should we. These Pufendorf lectures are a must-watch for everyone with an interest in the methodology of science.

The economic consequences of tax cuts for the rich Given the lack of consensus in existing empirical analyzes and the difficulties of making causal inferences from macro-level panel data analyzes, it remains an open empirical question how cutting taxes on the rich affects economic outcomes. We believe the question is best answered by looking at the effects of major tax cuts packages, as the story of taxing the rich in the advanced democracies over the past...

The dangers of idealizing randomization In his history of experimental social science — Randomistas: How radical researchers are changing our world — Andrew Leigh gives an introduction to the RCT (randomized controlled trial) method for conducting experiments in medicine, psychology, development economics, and policy evaluation. Although it mentions there are critiques that can be waged against it, the author does not let that shadow his overwhelmingly...

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Udo Lindenberg — Sonderzug nach Pankow .[embedded content] In den 1980er Jahren hatte die deutsche Rocklegende Udo Lindenberg eine große Anhängerschaft hinter dem Eisernen Vorhang. Besuche zeigten ihm, dass die Menschen in Ostdeutschland im Grunde genommen genauso waren wie im Westen. Er begann Erich Honecker zu bitten, ihm zu erlauben, durch das Land zu touren. Im Sonderzug nach Pankow stellt sich Udo vor, in der DDR zu spielen. Ihm wurde tatsächlich...

.[embedded content] Robbie Robertson (1943-2023) R.I.P.

Explanatory fictionalism in economics One of the limitations of economics is the restricted possibility to perform experiments, forcing it to mainly rely on observational studies for knowledge of real-world economies. But still — the idea of performing laboratory experiments holds a firm grip on our wish to discover (causal) relationships between economic ‘variables.’ If we only could isolate and manipulate variables in controlled environments, we would...

.[embedded content] Toujours la meilleure chanson dans les presque 70 ans du Concours Eurovision de la Chanson. Le style unique de France Gall et sa capacité à transmettre des émotions authentiques ont fait d’elle une artiste vénérée, capable de toucher le cœur de chacun de ses auditeurs. Je l’ai vue pour la première fois en 1965 et à chaque fois que je l’écoute, je retombe amoureux à nouveau!