Book Description
"The book was originally inspired by Harry Truman who said, "Give me a one handed economist! All my economists say on the one hand... on the other." It is my contention that ideology can only operate to limit choice. By mitigating choices, growth stimulating accords are sometimes overlooked or simply ignored. As an empiricist, I advocate that no ideology is right or wrong, but that conditions and data are all that should drive our policy-making decisions. Every policy has a place where it will or will not work, a set of circumstances that make it function or malfunction, and conditions that promote or deny the benefits associated with that policy. My view on economic policy making and world poverty is unique to the literature, since it is precisely opposite to Harry Truman's desire. The world is complex; Harry Truman needed a Three Handed Economist, one hand was never enough. The world has many sectarian problems; luckily the United States has largely avoided such problems. However, the growing wealth gap, political divide, increasingly emboldened extremist groups, and the decline of compromise is certainly harming the nation's future outlook. Since much disagreement comes down to misinformation and misunderstanding, this book seeks to educate and inform to dissuade misunderstanding and misinformation within the United States. In the rest of the world, poor people are driven to make decisions they may not make if their lives were improved. Extreme poverty is a blight on humanity and the discussion is far too limited. Three Handed Economist addresses many issues relating to the popular grievances people have, discuss, and ultimately hold as a banner and reason to entrench their ideology."--Author's summary, Amazon.com.