Zur Rolle der Ökonometrie in der wissenschaftlichen Politikberatung

Gebhard Kirchgässner

No 1223, Economics Working Paper Series from University of St. Gallen, School of Economics and Political Science

Abstract: Because economic theory alone does in many situations not provide unambiguous policy advice, most of the time empirical analyses are needed in addition. Thus, today econometric analyses are often parts of reports for political institutions or courts. However, it is not unusual that reports with contradicting evidence are presented by different groups or parties. Using the relation between government size and economic growth as an example, it is shown how such contradicting results are possible even if all scientists involved behave sincerely and adhere to the rules of scientific research. Our second example, studies investigating whether the death penalty serves as a deterrent to homicide, shows that the results of empirical analyses might to a large extent depend on a priori convictions of the scientists. Thus, the process of scientific policy advice has to be organised in a way so that – similar to the genuinely scientific discourse – open discussion and criticisms of methods and results are possible. In order to disclose possible conflicts of interests, this demand transparency of the whole process and, in particular for empirical analyses, that data and programmes are made available for re-estimations.

Keywords: Economic Policy Advice; Economic Theory; Econometrics; Size of Government; Death Penalty; Objectivity; Self-Interest (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C10 H11 H19 K14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2012-11
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Journal Article: Zur Rolle der Ökonometrie in der wissenschaftlichen Politikberatung (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:usg:econwp:2012:23

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