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Why people believe weird things about money
L.A. Times ^ | January 13, 2008 | Michael Shermer

Posted on 01/16/2008 1:25:06 AM PST by forkinsocket

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To: forkinsocket

The article asserts that people AREN’T “rational” about “economics.”

The fallacy here is a false reification—i.e., the notion that “economic” choices involve ONLY something called “money” and “goods and services” that are sold by businesses.

As has been pointed out by other posters: The man making half as much as others will have a very hard time finding a wife, whereas the man who is poorer absolutely but wealthier relatively will find a wife easily and enjoy high social status. The fallacy in the question lies in the assumptions about what “goods and services” are actually “for sale” in a society.


21 posted on 01/16/2008 2:56:58 PM PST by Arthur McGowan
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To: forkinsocket
Amazingly, most people said that they would prefer to be A.

Amazingly, it is apparent that most people are idiots...and it is being born out watching this primary season.

22 posted on 01/16/2008 2:59:52 PM PST by Ethrane ("semper consolar")
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To: Berlin_Freeper

My thoughts exactly. Assuming I could still work to earn more money, I’d take the second option.


23 posted on 01/16/2008 3:01:38 PM PST by RockinRight (Huck(abee, not the Freeper Huck) Sucks.)
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To: Gorzaloon

Exactly. Because the price of goods is related to the amount of money chasing those goods, under the first option prices would stabilize to a point where you would enjoy a much greater standard of living than under the second. While your nominal income is greater in the second option, your real income is greater in the first.


24 posted on 01/16/2008 3:56:33 PM PST by scarface367 (Why are protectionists so stupid when it comes to economics?)
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To: forkinsocket
Would you rather earn $50,000 a year while other people make $25,000, or would you rather earn $100,000 a year while other people get $250,000? Assume for the moment that prices of goods and services will stay the same.

Also, assume that monkeys are flying out of my butt.

25 posted on 01/16/2008 8:53:12 PM PST by Sloth (I feel real bad for deaf people, cause they have no way of knowing when microwave popcorn is done.)
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To: forkinsocket

I would say that people interviewed are implicitly rejecting the assumption that “oh lets hold inflation fixed”. Bwhaha. Yeah right.

Very unrealistic.


26 posted on 01/26/2008 5:17:56 PM PST by Jason Kauppinen
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