The lure of incredible certitude

Charles F. Manski*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Forthright characterization of scientific uncertainty is important in principle and in practice. Nevertheless, economists and other researchers commonly report findings with incredible certitude, reporting point predictions and estimates. To motivate expression of incredible certitude, economists suggest that researchers respond to incentives that make the practice tempting. This temptation is the 'lure' of incredible certitude. I appraise some of the rationales that observers may have in mind when they state that incredible certitude responds to incentives. I conclude that scientific expression of incredible certitude at most has appeal in limited contexts. It should not be a general practice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)216-245
Number of pages30
JournalEconomics and Philosophy
Volume36
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2020

Keywords

  • partial identification
  • policy analysis
  • scientific uncertainty

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Philosophy
  • Economics and Econometrics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The lure of incredible certitude'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this