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'inevitable' yet precedes to list examples in geopolitics, economy and energy which are all the result of choices made by human beings. Let us not use language

'inevitable' yet precedes to list examples in geopolitics, economy and energy which are all the result of choices made by human beings. Let us not use language which describes economic recessions as force majeure - they are the result of human acts, human decisions, perhaps more strategic and pre-planned than comprised publishers like the Economist would have us believe

cj 4y ago
> comprised publishers like the Economist I was under the impression that the economist was one of the last remaining high quality print magazines in existence. Curious what makes you think they’re compromised? (And if you’re aware of any similar publications that aren’t compromised?) Edit: just noticed the quote says “comprised” rather than compromised. Disregard this comment if that wasn’t a typo
- nuc1e0n 4y ago
  The Economist remains uncompromised in my view. Maybe out of touch though. Another reason for more vigourous debate. I still think all these troubles are just engineering problems to be solved. I relish the task.
  - jjeaff 4y ago
    I think most honest economists would tell you that economists have never been very good at predicting the future. They can do a pretty good job of explaining the why of the past and how markets work, but there are too many factors, either known or unknown that always come into play. But people really want predictions, which is why you get headlines like this one.
    - nuc1e0n 4y ago
      Well they are a company that needs to sell magazines/newspapers. Good for them I say. I think predictions can still be useful even if they are wrong.
rwmj 4y ago
This is extremely nitpicking. Obviously human factors cause recessions, have you noticed that economics is entirely about human affairs? The Economist doesn't need to state this explicitly.
- AmericanChopper 4y ago
  Economics is specifically the study of resource allocation decisions. That’s literally all an economy is, the sum of all resource allocation decisions.
eli_gottlieb 4y ago
The business cycle is inevitable under capitalism.
brookst 4y ago
I am pretty sure they are using inevitable to mean “given where we are today” and not “could never have been avoided by different past choices going back to the Big Bang”.

cj 4y ago

> comprised publishers like the Economist I was under the impression that the economist was one of the last remaining high quality print magazines in existence. Curious what makes you think they’re compromised? (And if you’re aware of any similar publications that aren’t compromised?) Edit: just noticed the quote says “comprised” rather than compromised. Disregard this comment if that wasn’t a typo

nuc1e0n 4y ago
The Economist remains uncompromised in my view. Maybe out of touch though. Another reason for more vigourous debate. I still think all these troubles are just engineering problems to be solved. I relish the task.
- jjeaff 4y ago
  I think most honest economists would tell you that economists have never been very good at predicting the future. They can do a pretty good job of explaining the why of the past and how markets work, but there are too many factors, either known or unknown that always come into play. But people really want predictions, which is why you get headlines like this one.
  - nuc1e0n 4y ago
    Well they are a company that needs to sell magazines/newspapers. Good for them I say. I think predictions can still be useful even if they are wrong.

rwmj 4y ago

This is extremely nitpicking. Obviously human factors cause recessions, have you noticed that economics is entirely about human affairs? The Economist doesn't need to state this explicitly.

AmericanChopper 4y ago
Economics is specifically the study of resource allocation decisions. That’s literally all an economy is, the sum of all resource allocation decisions.

eli_gottlieb 4y ago

The business cycle is inevitable under capitalism.

brookst 4y ago

I am pretty sure they are using inevitable to mean “given where we are today” and not “could never have been avoided by different past choices going back to the Big Bang”.