February, 2008

Of Little Green Men and the Fairness of the Welfare State

by Michael C. Munger
The Conversation
February 21st, 2008

A survey, apropos Prof. Gaus’s use of survey research on fairness: YANKELOVICH PARTNERS, INC. SURVEY – 1997 Source: USA Today, July 7, 1997 Do you believe the government is hiding evidence of intelligent life in space? Yes 79% Do you believe a UFO crashed in Roswell in 1947? Yes 65% Seriously, what kind of riposte [...]

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The Myth of Interest

by Gerald Gaus
The Conversation
February 21st, 2008

In his reply de Jasay makes two claims. First, he claims, “The saving grace of using interest as the motive of choice is that for all its narrowness, it deals in matter that is identifiable, ascertainable and with a bit of luck even quantifiable.” There is a well-known, notorious, problem with this old view. If [...]

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