Makes Me Unhappy
12 November 2007
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
Here's the scariest line I've read in ages: "The era of laissez-faire happiness might be coming to an end. Some prominent economists and psychologists are looking into ways to measure happiness to draw it into the public policy realm" ("All They Are Saying Is Give Happiness a Chance," November 12).
Several decades ago, some economists - enamored of their increasing ability to describe statistically existing patterns of production - fancied that a new age was dawning in which government would improve the lot of ordinary people by substituting its own production and distribution "plans" for the results of the market. These fancies proved to be dangerous fantasies. We would all be much better off - happier, even! - if this new generation of planners are laughed out of the public arena before their power grows to be as large as their gargantuan arrogance.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
Here's the scariest line I've read in ages: "The era of laissez-faire happiness might be coming to an end. Some prominent economists and psychologists are looking into ways to measure happiness to draw it into the public policy realm" ("All They Are Saying Is Give Happiness a Chance," November 12).
Several decades ago, some economists - enamored of their increasing ability to describe statistically existing patterns of production - fancied that a new age was dawning in which government would improve the lot of ordinary people by substituting its own production and distribution "plans" for the results of the market. These fancies proved to be dangerous fantasies. We would all be much better off - happier, even! - if this new generation of planners are laughed out of the public arena before their power grows to be as large as their gargantuan arrogance.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Thursday May 1, 2008 at 9:05am