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About this quote

What does it mean?
Economic consensus among the majority is often incorrect.
In plain terms
Most people get economics wrong.
What can you take from it?
Question popular economic opinion with evidence.

Where it applies

  • policy debate
  • financial news
  • public discourse

Putting it to work

  • study economics deeply
  • challenge popular economic myths

Questions to consider

  • When is the majority wrong?
  • How do you spot bad economics?

Another view

Majorities can be right on simple economic matters.

More from John Kenneth Galbraith

  1. Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everybody gets busy on the proof.

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  2. It would be foolish to suggest that government is a good custodian of aesthetic goals. But, there is no alternative to the state.

    Permalink to quote #70
  3. Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.

    Permalink to quote #67

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