When U.S. President Harry Truman said that he wanted to find a one-armed economist because his economic advisors always said, "On the one hand . . . and on the other hand . . ." he recognized that the advice of economists is often ambiguous. Why is their advice often ambiguous?
A) Economists are often unable to identify the critical questions involved in policy issues.
B) Economists are aware that trade-offs are involved in most policy questions.
C) Economists have difficulty seeing the fallacy of composition.
D) Economists disagree a lot over positive statements.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Economists are taught to consider the costs and benefits of any given policy, and to recognize that there are often trade-offs involved. This can lead to ambiguous advice, as economists will present arguments for and against a certain policy, rather than giving a clear-cut recommendation.

When US President Harry Truman Said That He Wanted to Find