Here’s something worth three cheers. Possibly four.
Robert Murphy is a prolific young economist of the free-market “Austrian” school of economics, which has a vibrant online presence at Mises.org, the website of the Ludwig von Mises Institute.
In October, Murphy decided to challenge Paul Krugman, the prominent economics professor, author and New York Times columnist, to a debate on Keynesian versus Austrian business cycle theory. After all, as Nobel-Prize-winning economist and partisan left-wing scribbler, Krugman tends to insist on policies the opposite of what any reasonable economic conclusion might be.
Krugman’s extremist, Big Government über alles positions should make for a great fireworks display in a well-attended debate with the scrupulously sane and reasonable Murphy. Point-counterpoint. The debate would also be a great venue for Murphy to publicize the sorely needed Austrian explanation of why massive governmental perversion of capital structure and market incentives ain’t exactly the best way to foster economic growth.
Murphy launched an Internet campaign, complete with goofy (and funny) animated YouTube video, to pressure Krugman. Murphy is asking folks to pledge a sum to the Fresh Food Program at a New York food bank that would be collected only if Krugman does debate him.
At last count, pledges have topped $50,000.
I hope Krugman agrees. Feeding hungry people is a good cause, and so is saving the economy from annihilation by Krugmanesque economics.
Meantime, give Murphy at least three huzzahs for pluck.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
6 replies on “Three Cheers for Robert Murphy”
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You forgot to mention about Krugman a few things.
HE WAS AN ECONOMIST AND ADVISER FOR ENRON-AND WE ALL KNOW HOW WELL THAT FIRM WAS RUN(?)AND IN REALITY, DID.
HE ALSO (NEWSMAX THE OTHER DAY) TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, CONTROL MEDICAL SPENDING — FORGET REVAMPING MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS TO REAL MALPRACTICE; FORGET SPEEDY INTRODUCTIONS OF DRUGS-NOT HOLDING OFF A DRUG BECAUSE 1 IN 10 MILLION MIGHT HAVE A REACTION; HAVE DEATH PANELS,.
SO, TO ME, ANYTHING HE SAYS SI CRAP.
INCIDENTALLY, HE WROTE IN A BOOK, CO-AUTHORED WITH HIS WIFE (ALSO AN ECONOMIST) ONE VIEW ON AN ISSUE, BIT WHEN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AGREED WITH HIM-ON THAT ONE ISSUE, HE SAID THAT THE POSITION IS WRONG.
HE DID NOT REALIZE THAT THEY WERE QUOTING HIM
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Krugman is a loud fluke and he would never risk a confrontation that would so blatently show his lack of substance.
Jay, I strongly suspect that if Paul Jacob failed to mention anything in Paul Krugman’s long list of sins, it has more to do with the brevity of each Common Sense installment than with any particular lapse in memory. Krugman is an easy target for anybody with common sense, and perhaps 25 or 35 fat volumes could be published refuting his vast variety of nonsense. He’s a genius at coming up with ever more superficially different ways to serve up the same old illogical crud.
Hey folks, Could be the U.S. far greater off keeping Syria’s Assad?