The perception that economists disagree arises from two mechanisms: economists don't bother discussing what they agree on (so public discourse focuses on disagreements), and journalists seeking 'balance' on settled issues like free trade end up pitting an economist against a lobbyist, then headline it as 'economists disagree.'

causalpending

Speaker

David Henderson

Evidence Quote

so the person will work his or her way to someone in the organization who will say it's bad and that's not necessarily hard to find and then what will the headline be economists disagree

Source

David Henderson on Disagreeable Economists 7/30/2007EconTalk
Created: 6/16/2026, 3:03:17 PM

My Notes

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