Chapter 39 — Exercises

A1. Name three areas where ~90% of economists agree. For each, state what they agree on. A2. Name three areas of genuine disagreement. For each, identify whether the disagreement is primarily about facts or values. A3. The minimum wage debate: what do economists agree on? What don't they? Sort the agreement and disagreement into factual and value components. A4. "Economists disagree about everything, so their advice is useless." Apply this chapter to evaluate the claim. A5. Pick any policy debate in the news. Apply the factual-vs-value distinction. Which parts of the debate could be settled by evidence? Which can't? A6. Look up three IGM Forum polls (igmchicago.org). What was the question? What was the consensus? Was there meaningful dissent? A7. The 2021–23 inflation: where do economists agree about its causes? Where don't they? A8. The four anchor examples have been used throughout the book. For each (Millbrook, 2008, minimum wage, COVID), summarize what economists agree on and what they disagree about.

Selected answers in appendices/answers-to-selected.md.