The Incidental Economist
Encyclopedia
The Incidental Economist is a blog
focused on economics
, U.S. health policy, politics
, and law
, though posts in other areas are common. It was founded in 2009 by Austin Frakt, a health economist and Boston University
assistant professor. Austin has been joined by Aaron Carroll, associate professor of Pediatrics and health services researcher at Indiana University School of Medicine
, and Don Taylor, associate professor of Public Policy at Duke University
, as the blog's principal authors. Other contributors include Kevin Outterson, associate professor of law at Boston University School of Law
, Ian B. Crosby, an antitrust
attorney, and Steve Pizer, a health economist and Boston University
associate professor. The blog also hosts occasional guest posts by academics and other blog
gers.
The content of The Incidental Economist is often technical with arguments turning on specifics gleaned from academic literature and policy nuances. About the blog's posts, journalist Kevin Drum
wrote,
The blog's tagline is "Contemplating health care with a focus on research, an eye on reform," and the authors promise that they "think before [they] write, and write what [they] know. Few if any posts at The Incidental Economist are idle speculation or shallow observations." Posts are often policy relevant, timely, and include arguments supported by academic literature.
During 2009 and 2010, The Incidental Economist gained visibility among journalists covering Barack Obama
's health reform agenda. It was frequently cited by Ezra Klein
, Kevin Drum
, Jonathan Cohn
, Andrew Sullivan
, among others.
's March 2010 article in The Atlantic that ignited a debate over the connection between health insurance and mortality, Harvard assistant professor and physician J. Michael McWilliams provided a literature review on the subject. McWilliam's post and related ones were cited by numerous journalists.
Other literature review posts have covered the topics of health care cost shifting, employer-sponsored health insurance versus wage trade-off, and many on employer-sponsored health insurance in general. Again, many posts of this type have been cited by journalists covering health policy.
Another recurring theme centers on reviews of free, online university courses available via podcast. Many Open Yale Courses
offerings have been summarized and critiqued.
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
focused on economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, U.S. health policy, politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, and law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, though posts in other areas are common. It was founded in 2009 by Austin Frakt, a health economist and Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
assistant professor. Austin has been joined by Aaron Carroll, associate professor of Pediatrics and health services researcher at Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
The Indiana University School of Medicine is a leading medical school and medical research powerhouse connected to Indiana University. With several teaching campuses in the state, the School of Medicine has its predominant research and medical center at the Indiana University – Purdue University...
, and Don Taylor, associate professor of Public Policy at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, as the blog's principal authors. Other contributors include Kevin Outterson, associate professor of law at Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
, Ian B. Crosby, an antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
attorney, and Steve Pizer, a health economist and Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
associate professor. The blog also hosts occasional guest posts by academics and other blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
gers.
The content of The Incidental Economist is often technical with arguments turning on specifics gleaned from academic literature and policy nuances. About the blog's posts, journalist Kevin Drum
Kevin Drum
Kevin Drum is an American political blogger and columnist. He was born in Long Beach, California and now lives in Irvine, California.-Education:...
wrote,
They tend to be pretty wonky, but if you like that kind of stuff you should check out [the] blog. It's called The Incidental Economist.
The blog's tagline is "Contemplating health care with a focus on research, an eye on reform," and the authors promise that they "think before [they] write, and write what [they] know. Few if any posts at The Incidental Economist are idle speculation or shallow observations." Posts are often policy relevant, timely, and include arguments supported by academic literature.
During 2009 and 2010, The Incidental Economist gained visibility among journalists covering Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's health reform agenda. It was frequently cited by Ezra Klein
Ezra Klein
Ezra Klein is a liberal American blogger and columnist for The Washington Post, columnist for Bloomberg, a columnist for Newsweek, and a contributor to MSNBC...
, Kevin Drum
Kevin Drum
Kevin Drum is an American political blogger and columnist. He was born in Long Beach, California and now lives in Irvine, California.-Education:...
, Jonathan Cohn
Jonathan Cohn
Jonathan Cohn is an American author and journalist who writes mainly on United States public policy and political issues. Formerly the executive editor of The American Prospect, Cohn is currently a senior editor at The New Republic magazine and a senior fellow at Demos.-Works:Cohn's writings have...
, Andrew Sullivan
Andrew Sullivan
Andrew Michael Sullivan is an English author, editor, political commentator and blogger. He describes himself as a political conservative. He has focused on American political life....
, among others.
Recurring themes
A few broad themes or types of posts recur at The Incidental Economist. One genre of posts is policy relevant literature reviews. For instance, in a response to Megan McArdleMegan McArdle
Megan McArdle is a Washington, D.C.-based blogger and journalist. She writes mostly about economics, finance and government policy from a moderate libertarian or classical liberal perspective. She currently serves as the business and economics editor, as well as a blogger, for The Atlantic. She is...
's March 2010 article in The Atlantic that ignited a debate over the connection between health insurance and mortality, Harvard assistant professor and physician J. Michael McWilliams provided a literature review on the subject. McWilliam's post and related ones were cited by numerous journalists.
Other literature review posts have covered the topics of health care cost shifting, employer-sponsored health insurance versus wage trade-off, and many on employer-sponsored health insurance in general. Again, many posts of this type have been cited by journalists covering health policy.
Another recurring theme centers on reviews of free, online university courses available via podcast. Many Open Yale Courses
Open Yale Courses
Open Yale Courses is a project of Yale University to share full video and course materials from its undergraduate courses.Open Yale Courses provides free access to a selection of introductory courses....
offerings have been summarized and critiqued.