Mostly off-topic stuff this week. Some great articles here though!
- A shocking share of the public thinks randomized trials are immoral. Vox. Very surprising– especially the fact that science education doesn’t appear to change this belief.
- Is the U.S. budget deficit sustainable? MacroMania. Don’t be put off by the mathy parts. You can skip them and get the gist. Here’s a good summary: “What does this mean for fiscal policy going forward? The main conclusion is that the present rate of deficit spending and high level of debt-to-GDP is not something to be alarmed about (especially with inflation running below 2%). The national debt can, will, and probably should continue to grow indefinitely along with the economy. What matters more is how expenditures are directed and how taxes are collected. Of course, this should be done with an eye to keeping long-term inflation in check.”
- The Mueller Report. U.S. Dept. of Justice. For the past few weeks I’ve heard a lot of people arguing about the contents of this report but very few people have taken a peek themselves. There are two volumes. The first covers Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 election in order to benefit the Trump campaign and hinder the Clinton campaign. The second volume covers President Trump’s efforts to hinder the FBI/DOJ investigation of these Russian efforts. Each volume has a six to seven page executive summary. The summaries are extremely readable– no legalese. Read the summaries yourself and don’t be at the mercy of the pundits for your knowledge. Seriously, thirteen pages.
- How I Would Have Fared on the SAT’s Adversity Score. New Yorker. Controversial subject– I don’t have a comment, I just really liked the article.