It was asked This cafe Hayek postIan Fillmore, an economist at the University of Washington, sent me the email below, which he kindly shares here.
Hello Don
I appreciate your persistence in explaining (again and again) why industrial policy is stupid. Alas, I am afraid that the advocates of industrial policy do not understand the arguments against them, nor the evidence for the arguments. I guess people believe in industrial policy because, for a priori reasons, they are. want Believing in it. You will see arguments later.
right now why? Do you want to believe in industrial policy? That’s a very good question. Perhaps if we could figure this out we would have a better idea of how to convince them. Maybe… but the creepier side of me wonders how people are completely pre-rationally motivated, and their rational arguments are window dressing to justify the things they’re about to do. But I remembered the classical liberal commitment to reason and persuasion and repented of my evil ways.
So as I said, I admire your tenacity and your rejection of cynicism and pessimism. Keep up the good fight!
Ian Fillmore
