Please be trolling.

Is Economics science?

/sci/ told me it wasn't.

>>2034642
Depends on your definition of science.

Can economists actually solve any of the world's problems, ever?

>>2034642
No.

What's your favorite novel?

>>2034647
If applied properly. Economics by itself can't solve any problems by itself. For economics to work, world leaders need to take economic principles into account when creating laws or governments or what have you. Otherwise you end up with Soviets standing in line for three hours to buy a package of wear, the Department of Agriculture burning crops, homeless people freezing to death on the streets in New York while there's more than enough vacant or abandoned apartments to house them all, and so on.

Is piracy that big of an issue?

>>2034652
The Great Gatsby. Lolita comes in a close second. I liked Lolita a lot, and, frankly, it was better, but I enjoyed the Great Gatsby more.

>>2034623

Whats your opinion on income inequality? Should the rich be taxed more? Should capital gains, in particular, be taxed at a higer rate?

>>2034656
Ain't that more of a problem with capitalism, rather than solely the acts of individual governments?

>>2034669

The government exists partly to fix the problems that markets wont.

>>2034671
How do markets ever fix problems, being that they answer primarily to the profit motive? How can governments be said to fix problems when poverty, starvation, and homelessness are so widespread?

"If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion."
- George Bernard Shaw

What does George Bernard Shaw's famous quote mean to you? To what extent do you agree with it?

>>2034665
Most economists believe capital gains should be lowered and the rich shouldn't be excessively taxed. The reason being that tax rates and tax revenue are not the same thing. Statistics show that an increase in taxes on the rich cause the number of wealthy citizens to decline due to them relocating to a place which won't tax them as much or something along those lines. Decreases in capital gains taxes have actually resulted in increased tax revenues.

>>2034676

I guess i worded it wrong. The market system does a hell of alot right, so basically all economic "problems" are those caused by the market being incapable of handling them. One of the main reasons government exists is to fix these failures. Think of roads and parks, pollution management etc, things that literally cannot be profitable. The market wont deal with these, so the government has to.

Poverty, starvation and homelessness are problems the government is there to fix. They persist because the government seems to be also incapable of handling them...

>>2034686

Ok, i think i get some of the theroy behind it. I also understand the idea that lowering the tax on the rich should crate unemployment as it provides the rich (who have the power to create jobs by expanding their business) with an incentive to make more money. This: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html?_r=2&hp seems to refute those concepts though...

"If you put five economists in a room with a problem, you'll get seven solutions and revolution in an obscure country."

>>2034683

Its because alot of economics comes down to values, beliefs and opinons. For example, alot of Marxist ideas stem from some fact that workers and the average person are everything and should be treated as such. Some people believe healthcare is a RIGHT and should be free for everyone, some dont. Some believe texes are a violation of freedom, and everyone should have the right to keep what they earn. Many arguments come from the fact that these statements are subjective, and therefore there is rarely a sole solution to a problem. However, depending on what you ask there is very often a concensus amongst economists as tot he most efficient way for an objective to be met.

>>2034669
You'd think so, right? Actually, the Department of Agriculture burning crops was a result of the government putting price floors on corn. Due to artificially high prices, farmers grew a shitton of corn. The supply made the value of corn to drop below the price floor it was set at, so they burned the surplus. Similarly, rent control in New York provided incentives for landlords to build less lower class housing and more luxury apartments, which the poor can't afford. With rent control, the costs of managing a building often exceeds what you make from renting the apartments, so landlords often board up apartments and leave. The result is the supply of low-income housing to be far too low. However, the essay I read about that was from the 80's or something, I'm not sure what it's like now.

>>2034713
This, pretty much.

>>2034658
Nah. Piracy creates incentives for corporations to deal with it themselves, like Notch, instead of the government employing large some pervasive task force to track down pirates. Plus, according to some study I read, pirates typically buy more music than non-pirates.

>>2034700
Yeah it's bollocks, but it suits the rich to promote the notion that wealth will trickle down if the vast majority of it is allowed to accumulate in the hands of a tiny elite.

>>2034686

Summarising bourgeois lies again?

>>2034725
>>2034720

Its a contentious issue for a reason. I do, however, thinks its flat out wrong for someone like Warren Buffett to be paying less tax (proportionatley) than his secretary.

>>2034700
The rich shouldn't be given endless tax breaks and such. They just shouldn't be taxed to the point where it becomes distressing. There's a happy medium. And I never said anything about the trickle down theory, I was talking strictly about tax revenues and tax rates.

>>2034720
The trickle down theory is actually absolute bullshit.

All right then. If you're so clever, let's hear your critique of John Rawls' defence of economic redistribution.

>>2034737
This. OP knows shit shit.

>>2034751
>>2034751
*his shit

>>2034745
Idealism does not belong in /lit/—we're historical materialists in these here parts.

>>2034753
Oh, I had my trip on. Well this is embarrassing.

>>2034751
>>2034753
>>2034756

Wow. Simply wow.

>>2034756

Credibility is over.

Is it possible to move past this and continue the thread?

>>2034764
Nope.

I'm never going to trust self-appointed internet experts again.

What are your thoughts on foreigners buying vacant houses in the US?

FJABWGAIDJEHSBD I DID IT AGAIN GOD DAMN IT

>>2034771
I'm glad you brought it up, my friend. [foreigners buying vacant houses in the US] is an issue that's been weighing heavily on my mind.

Are you going to get a job as an accountant?

>>2034779
Go. Get out.

>>2034779
Actually, foreigners investing in the United States housing market is a good thing. Saying it's a bad thing is like saying banks getting money depositted into them is a bad thing because every time a deposit is made they go deeper into debt. But I guess my credibility is gone:

>>2034790
Intriguing! Tell me more!

>>2034784
No.

>>2034793
What, then?

I'm a giant faggot and I love to suck cocks.

Dear Economist: when are we gonna blow up capitalism? I've been waiting on this shit, seriously.

I LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MAJOR IN SOMETHING SUDDENLY THINK THEY'RE THE GOD OF THAT FIELD

YOU DON'T KNOW SHIT

ALL YOU KNOW IS THE MOST BASIC THINGS WRITTEN BY OTHERS. ANYONE CAN GET THIS INFORMATION AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON

BUSINESS/COMMERCE DEGREES ARE MADE SO THAT FUCKHEADS CAN EASILY PASS WITH LITTLE EFFORT.

Mr Economist, could I get your opinion on this:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/10/04/130329523/how-fake-money-saved-brazil

I'm not trying to opine on it, I'm just curious what you think about it.

What do you think about the "Nordic model" compared to "American model"?

In the wake of what seems to be growing inequality within western states and between the first and third world on top of what appears to be a second recession it is clear that the current economic model is not working.

What do you propose for a new model to remedy these problems? I am not going so far as to abandon capitalism but it's current incarnation is not working at all.

>>2034849

I'm going to have to agree with capslock here. Get a PhD if you want to start calling yourself an Economist.

>>2034854
FROM WHAT I READ IT SEEMS LIKE THE PEOPLE OF BRAZIL ARE SILLY NILLYS

>>2034863
Well, that's money for you.

>>2034854
I don't have to read it to know it's about fiat money.

>people complain about a particular element of modern capitalism as though one, singular flaw in the system were the only thing preventing us all from living a life of beauty and splendor

>LOLS

>>2034872
PSST

All money is fiat.

>>2034883
PSST.

That's why I said it.

>>2034885
PSST

Oh, sorry, I mistook your tone. My bad.

let this thread die.

>>2034849
>BUSINESS/COMMERCE DEGREES ARE MADE SO THAT FUCKHEADS CAN EASILY PASS WITH LITTLE EFFORT.

Why would you do any other degree? im not gonna lie, my econ classes are HILARIOUSLY easy and i rarely show up to lectures.