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Opinions on TASC (Think-Tank for Action on Social Change)?

  • 27-11-2010 9:59am
    #1
    Killer Pigeon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,132 ✭✭✭


    Hey,

    I just want to ask for some educated opinions on the organisation TASC (Think-Tank for Action on Social Change) and the economic incentives but forward by that organisation. Now I don't know a huge amount about economics but I understand that TASC are advocating left-leaning alternative economic policies. Do you agree with them?

    Some of their publications can be viewed here: http://www.tascnet.ie/showPage.php?ID=2531

    Regards,

    KP.
    Tagged:


Comments

  • #2
    Time Magazine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,452 ✭✭✭Time Magazine


    Killer Pigeon wrote: »
    o you agree with them?
    Generally, no. I think they are quite biased (classic example) and imho let their politically-motivated Keynesian tendencies overbear the realities of economics.

    I have no problem with socially democratic-oriented politics and such policies can easily justified if you have strong inequality aversion, etc. But I think TASC lean too much in the "let's justify these policies" camp rather than the camp of the "are these policies actually working?" The latter is economics, the former is politics. On the analysis side of thing, TASC don't come close to rivaling the Geary Institute. For the politics side of things, I can always vote Labour.


  • #3
    Time Magazine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,452 ✭✭✭Time Magazine


    Time Magazine wrote: »
    On the analysis side of thing, TASC don't come close to rivaling the Geary Institute.

    Just to clarify on this point: I have never seen TASC say something along the lines of "you know, we need to rein in spending" or "higher taxes mightn't be a good idea right now." I think this is due to their political leanings, almost inherent in their blog's name "Progressive Economy", authors names like "Slí Eile" etc. In contrast, academic institutes will happily have fairly left-wing views (e.g. spend far, far more on early childhood education) and fairly right-wing views (e.g. free fees are doing nothing) simultaneously. The criterion they use in "whether this works or not."

    This is a little unfair on TASC, but I'd treat them in much the same way as I'd view an organisation like the American Enterprise Institute - fine in principle but when you read their mission statement ("to defend the principles ... [of] limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and responsibility, vigilant and effective defense and foreign policies") you realise they aren't much more than a political front.


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