… Political scientists Kenneth Scheve and David Stasavage offer four reasons here for why democracy has not saved us from inequality. They end with the one to which they appear to give the most credence: mass opinion. In short, for democracy to reduce inequality, it must be the case that […] Read more »
Common Core: The Obamacare of Education Policy
… It seems quite possible that “Obamacare” will continue to be unpopular even as the provisions of the ACA gain in use and acceptance. So it is with the Common Core, which many on the right will continue to associate with Obama’s perceived socialist agenda at least until he leaves […] Read more »
Why Do Smart People Disagree About Facts? Some Perspectives on Climate Denialism
… Lack of belief in climate change correlates highly with political party and with faith in government. People who lean left and look to government to solve problems believe in climate change because they can see a solution—policy—that is within the realm of their experience and tolerance. People who lean […] Read more »
‘Motivated Numeracy’: What’s the Point?
… The “Motivated Numeracy” study is the latest (more or less) installment in a series intended to make sense of and maybe help solve the science communication problem. The “science communication problem” refers to the failure of valid, compelling, and widely accessible scientific evidence to dispel public controversy over risks […] Read more »
Party polarization is making us more prejudiced
… I examined American National Election Studies data and found that partisan and ideological identities (and particularly the alignment between the two) are capable of powerfully driving what I call social polarization. This type of polarization is made up of three major effects, each of which occurs independently of our […] Read more »
Who distrusts whom about what in the climate science debate?
… No group’s members understand themselves to be taking positions contrary to what expert scientists advocate. They all believe that the position that predominates in their group is consistent with the views of expert scientists on the risks in question. In other words, they recognize that science is a source […] Read more »