April, 2010

Intentions versus Consequences

by Glen Whitman
The Conversation
April 26th, 2010

I’m gratified to hear that Richard Thaler doesn’t support all the policies that appear in his earlier work on libertarian paternalism. The inclusion of those policies sounded a lot like an endorsement to me, but I’ll take him at his word that he personally doesn’t back them.
And yet my concerns are not assuaged. [...]

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Peace at Last

by Richard Thaler
The Conversation
April 22nd, 2010

I am pleased to say that we finally seem to be making some progress. If Professor Whitman has no qualms with what is written in Nudge then I am pleased indeed. And Whitman needn’t fear that there are two Thalers out there. Most would agree that one is more than enough.
Frankly, I [...]

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To Tell the Truth

by Glen Whitman
The Conversation
April 20th, 2010

If arguing with me is like walking into Monty Python’s “Argument Clinic,” arguing with Richard Thaler is like playing the 1950s game show “To Tell the Truth.” Will the real Richard Thaler please stand up?
One Richard Thaler is heavily represented in the book Nudge, as well as in this debate. This Thaler has [...]

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Revealing Revealed Preferences

by Jonathan Klick
The Conversation
April 19th, 2010

I wish I had as much money as Thaler. Presumably, among the reasons I don’t are because I neither save enough nor work hard enough. I take my boys to Phillies games, costing money and time, among other diversions that thwart my stated goal of being rich. Would I be better off [...]

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The Argument Clinic

by Richard Thaler
The Conversation
April 16th, 2010

I must say that I find Professor Whitman’s debating style reminds me quite a bit of arguing with John Cleese in the famous Monty Python argument clinic sketch. Whitman employs two strategies. 1. Mis-stating the arguments and goals of the other side. 2. Repeating unsubstantiated claims. This is tiresome [...]

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Take Me to the River

by Glen Whitman
The Conversation
April 15th, 2010

Shane Frederick begins his reply with an extended example about a river in which many people like to swim — and in which a few have drowned. His first question is, “What should the warning sign say?” My first question is, “Who owns this place?”
Frederick doesn’t specify the answer in his set-up. [...]

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Why Context Matters

by Glen Whitman
The Conversation
April 14th, 2010

I’m in agreement with most everything in Jonathan Klick’s reply. But I wish to emphasize a couple of his best points.
First, Klick revisits the public/private distinction. This is important because the new paternalists rely extensively on private non-coercive examples, from alarm clocks to ergonomically designed iPods to calorie-controlled food portions, to build support [...]

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My Fears Affirmed

by Glen Whitman
The Conversation
April 13th, 2010

I want to thank the Cato Institute — specifically, Will Wilkinson and Jason Kuznicki — for arranging this exchange. I also want to thank my three respondents for their comments.
I have a lot to say in reply, so I’ll respond to each in a separate post. Here, I reply to Richard [...]

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