Comments on: Disposable Thumbs

By: Aswin

Aswin — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:12:26 +0000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekalavya

By: Eastwoos

Eastwoos — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:38:15 +0000

Most economists have three hands to begin with. Therefore, giving up one hand might not be so bad except that they would then have to change occupations to something based on reality.

By: Hasdrubal

Hasdrubal — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:26:32 +0000

Does it have to be my thumb? I can think of four, maybe five thumbs I’d happily give up to NOT be published in the AER, if-you-know-what-I-mean. ~.^

My vote is for Pat T winning the thread.

By: Jonathan Campbell

Jonathan Campbell — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:09:21 +0000

“Then the average value of a publication is the average of (1/3 thumb) and (3 thumbs), which is to say 5/3 of a thumb.”

Yes but the average value of a thumb would b e 5/3 of a publication, so where would that leave you?

By: Advo

Advo — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:50:30 +0000

WHICH years of life are we talking about here?
I’d give up a year at life’s end (e.g. 99-100) much more willingly than one at, say, 40-41.

By: pravin

pravin — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 07:32:14 +0000

awesome.if only i could do research by mailing questionnaires.
empirical investigation would include the views of economists who have ALREADY sacrificed their thumbs .demonstrated preference trumps fantasies,everytime

By: Mike Rulle

Mike Rulle — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:53:50 +0000

Fantasy questions are always fun, but usually without too much meaning. First, “giving up one year of life” is a virtual if not literal existential impossibility. Tell me when you “would have died” then I can take away that year. Since you cannot do that, it is a meaningless concession.

Perhaps one could say to one of these guys “hey, I am definitely going to kill you a year from now—-but I will do you a favor. I will publish your essay and kill you right now”. Who will take that deal? Everyone always assumes that “extra year” is 40 years from today.

Thumbs are perhaps more easily tested. Too bad we cannot sell thumbs or have them transplanted. Then we can test that as well. I am pretty sure those answers would change.

By: neil wilson

neil wilson — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:31:36 +0000

How much would you pay? How many thumbs would you give up? How many years of life would you give up?

… to be born in the USA or to be born in some random country? (1/6 chance in China, 1/8 chance in India, etc.)

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:15:40 +0000

If a thumb is worth $115K, then, at a 5% interest rate, possessors of thumbs gain a benefit of $5,750 per annum. Should we tax them on that? Or, at least, give non-thumb-possessors a tax rebate of $5,750?

If not, why not?

By: iceman

iceman — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 20:31:41 +0000

Don’t the numbers of years sacrificed seem awfully low across the board? E.g. I’d rather be able to play golf (badly) for as long as I can, than have a couple extra years of sipping my pureed lunch thru a straw held in my non-preferred hand. Makes me wonder if these are economists who endorse a free market in body parts.

I also have to wonder at any economist who doesn’t get the ‘game’ that everything can be expressed in terms of anything else, but rather raises moral objections to the formulation.