The Role of Data and Evidence in an Era of Fake News with The Wall Street Journal’s Greg Ip
Have we entered an era of “post-truth politics,” in which ideology and propaganda have more influence over policymaking than data and evidence? If a post-truth world is the new normal, what is the role of academic research in decision-making? How does academic research shape mainstream reporting of key policy issues?
On Monday, November 6, The Becker Friedman Institute (BFI), hosted Greg Ip, Chief Economics Commentator for The Wall Street Journal, for a discussion on the role of academic research in shaping mainstream news. Greg shared his first-hand perspective on the influence of data and evidence in the modern day policymaking and reporting.
“Economics and journalism have something in common, which is that we’re mostly trying to take information and data out there and explain it, help people decide what the world is like and what to do about it. But it is increasingly difficult…in today’s atmosphere, to establish a common basis of fact on which for us to have these debates and answer these questions,” Greg Ip.
You can find video from the discussion here.
You can find photos from the discussion here.
About the Friedman Forum series
This counterpart to the popular and long-running Becker Brown Bag Series was created for undergraduates, offering them an opportunity for informal discussion with prominent economists. These casual and flexible talks will highlight economic analysis as a powerful tool for understanding a wide range of real-world issues and problems. Questions are welcomed.
