2. If Blinder is an idiot, as you claim, what does it make your instructor, who assigned the book? What did he say about all those errors?
3. Have you been to seminars given by Blinder? Have you read his research papers? This is relevant. All evidence you have, it appears, is his textbook. Why do you attack the author wholesale when you could stop at saying that the textbook is bad? Do you think it would be fair to characterize you as an idiot if you make a mistake on a bad day?
The profssor claimed he didn't know how bad the book would be, he had considered using Krugman, which is really frightening. He noted many of the errors while we went through the book, it was a problem for him too, since he had to teach and test us.
3. Have you been to seminars given by Blinder? Have you read his research papers? This is relevant. All evidence you have, it appears, is his textbook. Why do you attack the author wholesale when you could stop at saying that the textbook is bad? Do you think it would be fair to characterize you as an idiot if you make a mistake on a bad day?
I never went to any of his seminars, I did however read some of this other papers, he does try to make things simpler or easier to explain, he does very poorly at times doing so.
I remember an amusing interview he gave years ago (I must say he does seem like a really nice guy) where he was trying to explain why we were not heading into a recession and the economy was doing good (circa 2001, before 9/11) and was using data and citing stats that directly contradicted everything he was saying.
It was bizarre, and one of the reasons I call him an idiot (but the textbook thing was really frustratring), he doesn't seem to ever grasp that often he undermines his own statements, and seems baffled when someone says so. He also, while trying to be nie, seems to have real problems understanding why anyone would disagree him.....even after he somtimes gives them cause.
Blinder is an idiot.