I wish I was in your class! Have you heard of Noble’s Algorithms out Oppression? It’s another example of how programmers’ biases make their way into code.
Oh that's kind of you, Jillian, thank you. I hadn't heard of that particular person and term, but I'm familiar with that phenomenon. It happens with images too. If you think about it, most of these programs, it seems to me, are written by white middle class males. I have nothing against them and certainly don't believe in focusing on such characteristics, but the outcome is almost inevitably going to be that they're not going to be able to have a different perspective. I think there's much more awareness of it now.
"All models are wrong, but some are useful" (George E. P. Box, supposedly). In addition to learning a bit about Keynes, I guess that your students discovered two important things: economics is a "dismal science" and computer models are built on assumptions. I actually think the latter is the most important, since many students do tend to assume a computer has some sort of super-human power when it comes to discerning truth. We need more of this kind of guerrilla teaching, especially when it comes to modern technology. Get students to see how models are wrong, and they might be able to use them fruitfully as they build their own.
Exactly, Mark. I wanted to get them to the stage where they would initiate for themselves questions like Where's your evidence, What assumptions are being made here.
I am totally a fan of breaking down complex subjects into understandable models. We need a great deal more of it and a bunch of patient dedicated teachers - ah writers.
It’s fascinating to throw extreme inputs into models and see what happens. Sometimes we get to see those effects in real life. Goodbye Liz Truss.
I guess the other thing to learn here is that models can never model every variable at play or even for economist to be aware of every variable at play. And then, at the heart of it all we have humans who for the most part are rational beings but can quickly become erratic, especially in a world of social media where no one is sure of the truth any more.
Defo! When Kwarteng said we were entering a new era he was dead right -- just not in the way he intended! You're right about all the variables, which is why economists assume everything away with the magic phrase 'ceteris paribus' 😁 Thanks, Martin!
I wish I was in your class! Have you heard of Noble’s Algorithms out Oppression? It’s another example of how programmers’ biases make their way into code.
Oh that's kind of you, Jillian, thank you. I hadn't heard of that particular person and term, but I'm familiar with that phenomenon. It happens with images too. If you think about it, most of these programs, it seems to me, are written by white middle class males. I have nothing against them and certainly don't believe in focusing on such characteristics, but the outcome is almost inevitably going to be that they're not going to be able to have a different perspective. I think there's much more awareness of it now.
"All models are wrong, but some are useful" (George E. P. Box, supposedly). In addition to learning a bit about Keynes, I guess that your students discovered two important things: economics is a "dismal science" and computer models are built on assumptions. I actually think the latter is the most important, since many students do tend to assume a computer has some sort of super-human power when it comes to discerning truth. We need more of this kind of guerrilla teaching, especially when it comes to modern technology. Get students to see how models are wrong, and they might be able to use them fruitfully as they build their own.
Exactly, Mark. I wanted to get them to the stage where they would initiate for themselves questions like Where's your evidence, What assumptions are being made here.
I am totally a fan of breaking down complex subjects into understandable models. We need a great deal more of it and a bunch of patient dedicated teachers - ah writers.
😁 Thanks, KW
It’s fascinating to throw extreme inputs into models and see what happens. Sometimes we get to see those effects in real life. Goodbye Liz Truss.
I guess the other thing to learn here is that models can never model every variable at play or even for economist to be aware of every variable at play. And then, at the heart of it all we have humans who for the most part are rational beings but can quickly become erratic, especially in a world of social media where no one is sure of the truth any more.
Defo! When Kwarteng said we were entering a new era he was dead right -- just not in the way he intended! You're right about all the variables, which is why economists assume everything away with the magic phrase 'ceteris paribus' 😁 Thanks, Martin!