Category Archives: Libertarian Thought

Russ Roberts on The Three Languages of Politics

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Arnold Kling

He sketches the main ideas of the book, and then he uses the three-axes model to discuss the blind spots of each tribe. For example, Liberals first. In their eagerness to empathize with the victim, they can turn the victim … Continue reading →

Posted in Three-Axes Model | 30 Comments

The left, the market, and economists

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Arnold Kling

In a recent exchange with Don Boudreaux, Bryan Caplan writes, The heart of the left is being anti-market. From the standpoint of the oppressor-oppressed axis, it may make sense to be anti-market. If you look at market outcomes, you see … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic education and methods, Three-Axes Model | 12 Comments

Facts, Feelings, and Filters

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Arnold Kling

A commenter writes, Arnold’s argument that economics is about using particular frameworks as lenses for interpretation is also quite postmodern. Well, sort of. Consider three statements. a) Amazon announced its intention to purchase Whole Foods. b) Amazon should not be … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic education and methods, Three-Axes Model, Washington Post bias | 15 Comments

Modernity and the Three-Axes Model

Posted on June 16, 2017 by Arnold Kling

Michael Aaron writes, Modernists are those who believe in human progress within a classical Western tradition. They believe that the world can continuously be improved through science, technology, and rationality. Unlike traditionalists, they seek progress rather than reversal, but what … Continue reading →

Posted in Three-Axes Model | 19 Comments

High Fixed Costs and Public Goods

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Arnold Kling

The June 2017 issue of Cato Unbound looks at how the private sector could provide public goods. It considers the idea of what Alex Tabarrok calls a Dominant Assurance Contract. Alex writes, The dominant assurance contract adds a simple twist … Continue reading →

Posted in business economics, Libertarian Thought, public choice | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Somewheres vs. Anywheres

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Arnold Kling

we need more nuanced terminology than “populists” versus “elites.” Thankfully, David Goodhart, a British author affiliated with the London think tank Policy Exchange and the founding editor of Prospect, offers just that. In his forthcoming book, The Road to Somewhere, … Continue reading →

Posted in books and book reviews, Libertarian Thought | 15 Comments

Podcast on The Three Languages of Politics

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Arnold Kling

with Caleb Brown. I think it covers well a lot of issues in the book.

Posted in Three-Axes Model | 4 Comments

A kind review of my book

Posted on May 20, 2017 by Arnold Kling

From an Amazon reader, the second edition is much better than the first. It’s nearly three times as long (146 pages vs the original edition’s 54), and more importantly gets the ideas across better. And that’s important because this is … Continue reading →

Posted in books and book reviews, Three-Axes Model | 6 Comments

Advertisement for Three Languages of Politics

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Arnold Kling

Do you think it will get anyone interested in ordering it? I tend to doubt it, but I am pretty pessimistic about the book’s prospects in general. I’m proud of the book, but the most avid audience for political books … Continue reading →

Posted in Three-Axes Model | 9 Comments

Jonathan Haidt’s six-step program

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Arnold Kling

for viewpoint diversity on campus. The steps include Look inside the mind. Learn a little bit of psychology to see the tricks the mind plays on us, making us all prone to be self-righteous, overconfident, and quick to demonize “the … Continue reading →

Posted in Three-Axes Model, Tyler Cowen is my Favorite Blogger | 5 Comments