Do we do certain things because we are a product of our environment, regardless of whether that thing we do leads us to optimal or suboptimal outcomes?
All in Policy
Do we do certain things because we are a product of our environment, regardless of whether that thing we do leads us to optimal or suboptimal outcomes?
Hyperbolic discounting happens because we consider the future as far less salient than the present. Figuring out if we ourselves are hyperbolic discounters may change what we think about whether we should withdraw our money at 55 or at 60.
The reason the counterfactual is important to know in any empirical research project, especially in the social sciences, is that it gives us a basis in which to compare outcomes of policy.
I have some issues with recent policies in Malaysia, particularly those that deal with government revenue and government expenditure.
In principle, I am all in favor of decentralization. I think far too much is centralized in Malaysia, and that includes examinations.
This note does not seek to critique our Ministers’ views of the homeless but rather to evaluate the economic rationale on homelessness and the ban on soup kitchens.
While I will discuss the gist of the paper, I strongly assert that every policymaker and development policy researcher in Malaysia should spend some time and read the paper for themselves
We certainly prefer our doctors to update their priors based on new medical evidence, why should we not prefer that of our politicians as well?
What I will absolutely not accept is if the government does not take responsibility for its own actions towards achieving fiscal consolidation as well which is, after all, the objective of these measures.
it might alter behavior, it might be more politically supportable and it might better target those who need the handouts. As is common in most policy debates, the answer is, “Not so fast.”
The most common argument against the GST is that it is a regressive tax and so, will harm the low-income more than the middle-income more than the high-income. I think this argument is incredibly naïve.