"John Cochrane, on the other hand, says that it’s all because George W. Bush gave a scary speech."The "it" in that sentence is the financial crisis. Cochrane says we had a financial crisis because President Bush created a panic. I'm looking for Cochrane's version of what Cochrane said. Have not found it yet. But for me, the panic began with Hank Paulson's speech of 19 September, 2008.
References
- This YouTube video may be the President's "scary speech"
- Here is the text of Paulson's speech.
- Wikipedia describes Paulson's 19 Sept 08 speech
Krugman rejects Cochrane's view as "the argument-from-authority thing" --
Source W says crisis.
Source W is authoritative.
Therefore, crisis is true.
No. Krugman has to be wrong about this. Anything can create a panic. President Bush's scary speech, or Treasury Secretary Paulson's scary speech, or both of 'em together in a one-two punch, that could create a panic.
It wouldn't work every day. It wouldn't work in a strong, healthy economy. But in an economy that's been going downhill for 40 years, an economy with irreparable problems, yeah. Scary talk could push us over the edge.
Point, Cochrane.
2 comments:
There is another possibility. People might have decided that Obama was going to win and that he would screw things up.
http://pair.offshore.ai/causeandeffect/
Rational Prognostications?
Post a Comment