I wasn't suggesting isolating one factor, I was suggesting that isolating what is actually a cause/effect of this drop, to what degree, vs what isn't is critica

I wasn't suggesting isolating one factor, I was suggesting that isolating what is actually a cause/effect of this drop, to what degree, vs what isn't is critical. I am 100% sure it's not one thing. Economists, good ones at least, as supposed to come up with a theory that unifies the facts into a coherent story, testable so that when a factor they didn't consider is introduced, the story still holds true. This is the same of any science (to the extent that economics is a science). That's what I want to see and more of. It's part of why I didn't like Piketty but also part of why I found it a compelling effort at least.