Albert Pierik
Why Economists Disagree Even When Looking at the Same Data
Economists often appear in public debates, disagreeing on the same topic as if they are speaking two completely different languages. One study claims inflation is driven by excess demand, another points to supply shocks. Some economists argue that higher interest rates slow the economy, while others suggest they merely follow economic downturns rather than cause them. Perhaps the most puzzling is that these disagreements continue when economists analyse the same data. The numbers are identical, the time periods overlap, yet the conclusions still differ. How can experts trained in the same field reach such different answers from the same evidence?
Why do we count in tens and not twelves?
Have you ever wondered why we use only ten digits and the decimal system and not something else? The number twelve once was a big contender. Look at the number of eggs in a dozen, the hours on a clock, months in a year and even the number of courses in a year.