Word: feldstein
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...March 11 Crimson article, "Economic Objectivity? Martin Feldstein's Social Security Findings," the views of Professor of Economics Lawrence H. Summers were innacurately portrayed. The article failed to report that Summers said the bulk of evidence supports the conclusing that expected social security benefits reduce personal savings...
...addition. The Crimson should have noted that the author of the article is the son of a former commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA). This association might have created the appearance of a conflict of interest because the main accusations against Feldstein's research were levelled by two SSA economists. The editors were unaware of the family association prior to publication, but do not believe that it affected the objectivity or fairness of the article...
...best alternative to Feldstein's "autocratic" ruling, according to the majority opinion, would force students (many of them freshmen) to choose between ideologically different sections in the first week of classes. The idea of students placing themselves in rigid ideological molds before they have the tools to make such an important decision is frightening. For even those students who have adequate knowledge to make a rational decision, is it part of Harvard liberal arts education to allow these students to surround themselves with ideologically similar people in the classroom...
...alternative to Feldstein? According to the majority opinion, the establishment of a committee of faculty members to govern Ec 10 can best present future "autocratic" decisions. Unfortunately, it is not apparent how such a committee would work or, indeed, whether it could be made to work at all. Who would choose the committee? How would they vote--by majority or by unanimity? Pragmatic questions, such as these are too often ignored for the sake of a lofty ideal...
What would happen if Feldstein decided tomorrow to-reinstate radical sections without consulting section leaders? Would the decision be condemned as autocratic and inherently unfair by this same ad hoc committee? Probably not. Feldstein would be praised for his liberal-minded viewpoint...