US

Economic Policy Advice

The Council of Economic Advisors is likely to give the US president better policy advice if the Chair and Members of the CEA have published peer-reviewed economics research.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Acemoglu
Daron Acemoglu
MIT
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
At least familiarity with nature of econ evidence and recent research is a must. Nonacademics often underestimate uncertainty all evidence.
Alesina
Alberto Alesina
Harvard Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Altonji
Joseph Altonji
Yale
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Auerbach
Alan Auerbach
Berkeley
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Autor
David Autor
MIT
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Alongside bad military advice, bad economic advice has harmed many nations, citizens and presidents. A CEA head should know some economics!
Baicker
Katherine Baicker
University of Chicago
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Banerjee
Abhijit Banerjee
MIT
Strongly Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Bertrand
Marianne Bertrand
Chicago
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Brunnermeier
Markus Brunnermeier
Princeton
Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Chetty
Raj Chetty
Harvard
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Chevalier
Judith Chevalier
Yale
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
A capable committed consumer of research likely fine. It would be unusual to achieve that without an advanced degree.
Cutler
David Cutler
Harvard
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
A President needs lots of types of advice, and this is the way to get academic input.
Deaton
Angus Deaton
Princeton
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Duffie
Darrell Duffie
Stanford
Strongly Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
The better economists, on average, are probably those publishing in peer refereed journals. But I don't have evidence for that to cite!
Edlin
Aaron Edlin
Berkeley
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
There is no scarcity of advisers who are not peer-reviewed economists. NEC, Treasury, Commerce, etc. Academics have a valuable perspective.
Eichengreen
Barry Eichengreen
Berkeley
Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
Einav
Liran Einav
Stanford
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Fair
Ray Fair
Yale
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Finkelstein
Amy Finkelstein
MIT Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Goldberg
Pinelopi Goldberg
Yale Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Goolsbee
Austan Goolsbee
Chicago
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
...better for whom?
Greenstone
Michael Greenstone
University of Chicago
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
all industries have a blind spot for themselves. but familiarity w latest research is impt, if background is talking head or professor
Hall
Robert Hall
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Hart
Oliver Hart
Harvard
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
I would conjecture yes. Your advice will be better if you can understand the latest thinking and this is more likely if you publish.
Holmström
Bengt Holmström
MIT
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Hoxby
Caroline Hoxby
Stanford
Strongly Agree
10
Bio/Vote History
Economic policy-making at the White House level requires great analytical skill and deep economic knowledge.
Hoynes
Hilary Hoynes
Berkeley
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Judd
Kenneth Judd
Stanford
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Kaplan
Steven Kaplan
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Economics training and good economic judgment trump peer reviewed papers.
Kashyap
Anil Kashyap
Chicago Booth
Strongly Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Junk arguments abound in economics. Research experience helps prevent them getting to the President.
Klenow
Pete Klenow
Stanford
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Levin
Jonathan Levin
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Maskin
Eric Maskin
Harvard
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Nordhaus
William Nordhaus
Yale
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Would emphasize background in academic or similar institutions and participation in professional associations.
Saez
Emmanuel Saez
Berkeley
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Samuelson
Larry Samuelson
Yale
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Peer reviewed research is not the only source of insight, but it is an essential input, and the CEA is the obvious place to provide it.
Scheinkman
José Scheinkman
Columbia University
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Schmalensee
Richard Schmalensee
MIT
Strongly Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Publication demonstrates training and quality of mind; necessary but not sufficient conditions for good economic advice.
Shapiro
Carl Shapiro
Berkeley
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Shimer
Robert Shimer
University of Chicago
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
This question is uncomfortably self-serving
Thaler
Richard Thaler
Chicago Booth
Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
Publications neither necessary nor sufficient to be good CEA chair. Jason Furman has few but has been excellent.
Udry
Christopher Udry
Northwestern
Strongly Agree
1
Bio/Vote History