Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T02:12:33.050Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Value Judgments and Efficiency in Publicly Supported Research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

George W. Ladd*
Affiliation:
Iowa State University

Extract

This paper is concerned only with research that is intended to guide, influence, or illuminate public policy choices. As professionals, we economists exhibit an unfortunate contradiction in values. Economists insist on making value judgments because they are needed to do research on public policy issues, and, simultaneously, insist on not discussing them, thereby keeping ourselves ignorant about what we are doing.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ackoff, R. L.Does Quality Of Life Have To Be Quantified?Gen. Systems 20(1975):213219.Google Scholar
Ackoff, R. L.The Future Of Operational Research Is Past.J. Operi. Res. Soc. 30(1979):93104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Akerloff, G. A., and Dickens, W. T.. “The Economic Consequences of Cognitive Dissonance.Amer. Econ. Rev. 72(1982):307319.Google Scholar
Alchian, A.The Meaning of Utility Measurement.Amer. Econ. Rev. 43(1953):2650.Google Scholar
Barnett, D., Blake, B., and McCarl, B. A.. “Goal Programming via Multidimensional Scaling Applied to Senegalese Subsistence Farms.Amer. J. Agr. Econ. 64(1982):720727.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beai, G. M., Bohlen, J. M., and Warland, R. H.. “Rural Value-Orientations And Farm Policy Positions And Actions.” Iowa Agr. and Home Econ. Exp. Sta. Res. Bull. 561, 1968.Google Scholar
Brook, K., and Peach, J. T.. “The Games People Play: A Comment on the Utility of Being Hanged on the Gallows.J. Post Keynesian Econ. 4(1981-1982):310313.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burke, R. J.Changing Values and the Future of the Employment Relationship.” In Management under Differing Value Systems, by Dlugos, G. and Weiermair, K., pp. 461480. Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1981.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dewey, J.Ethics.” In vol. 10, pp. 540546 of The Encyclopedia Americana. New York: Americana Corp., 1956.Google Scholar
Harberger, A. C.Three Basic Postulates For Applied Welfare Economists: An Interpretive Essay.J. Econ. Lit. 9(1971):785797.Google Scholar
Harper, W. M., and Eastman, C.. “An Evaluation of Goal Hierarchies for Small Farm Operators.Amer. J. Agr. Econ. 62(1980):742747.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hilger, D. A., McCarl, B. A., and Uhrig, J. W.. “Facilities Location: The Case of Grain Subterminals.Amer. J. Agr. Econ. 59(1977):674682.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Inglehart, R.Value Change in the Uncertain 1970's.” In Management under Differing Value Systems, by Dlugos, G. and Weiermair, K., pp. 75108. Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1981.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, G. L.Agro-Ethics: Extension, Research and Teaching.S. J. Agr. Econ. 14(1982):110.Google Scholar
Kluckholn, C.Values And Value-Orientations In The Theory Of Action: An Exploration In Definition And Classification.” In Toward A General Theory Of Action, edited by Talcott, P. and Shils, E. A., pp. 388433. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press, 1951.Google Scholar
Knight, F. H.Ethics and Economic Reform.Economica N.S. 6(1939):296321.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ladd, G. W.Analysis of Ranking of Dairy Bargaining Cooperatives. Iowa State Univ. Agr. and Home Econ. Exp. Sta. Res. Bull. 550, 1967.Google Scholar
Ladd, G. W., and Lifferth, D. R.. “An Analysis of Alternative Grain Distribution Systems.Amer. J. Agr. Econ. 57(1975):420430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leath, N., and Martin, J. E.. “The Transshipment Problem With Inequality Restraints.J. Farm Econ. 47(1966):894908.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mueller, D. C.Public Choice. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1979.Google Scholar
Nagel, E.The Structure of Science. New York: Harcourt, Brace, and World, 1961.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pazner, E. A.Merit Wants and The Theory of Taxation.Pub. Finance 27(1972):460472.Google Scholar
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Pioneer, News No. 3. Des Moines, 1980.Google Scholar
Randall, A.Information, Power, and Academic Responsibility.Amer. J. Agr. Econ. 56(1974):227234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rausser, G.Political Economic Markets: PERTs and PESTs in Food and Agriculture.Amer. J. Agr. Econ. 64(1982):821833.CrossRefGoogle Scholar