--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Conservatives have long argued…" description: "\"Conservatives have long argued, correctly, that 'fine-tuning' the economy is a chimera, but that argument seems to have disappeared from the conservati..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/alex-tabarrok-17566_argument_conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly_778512.png" --- # Conservatives have long argued, correctly, that… ![“Conservatives have long argued, correctly, that 'fine-tuning' the economy is a chimera, but that argument seems to have disappeared from the conservative handbook.” quote by Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/alex-tabarrok-17566_argument_conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly_778512.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/alex-tabarrok-17566_argument_conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly_778512.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/alex-tabarrok-17566_argument_conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly_778512.png) > “Conservatives have long argued, correctly, that 'fine-tuning' the economy is a chimera, but that argument seems to have disappeared from the conservative handbook.” [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fine‑tuning the economy is often seen as impossible, and conservatives have stopped using that argument. **In simple terms:** Economic fine‑tuning is viewed as a myth. Key Takeaway Reevaluate economic policy assumptions. Themes economics conservatism policy debate Mood analytical thoughtful Type essay opinion When to use this quote - policy analysis - academic debate - public discourse Key Concepts market dynamics ideological shifts Questions to Reflect On - Is fine‑tuning truly unattainable? - What alternatives exist for economic improvement? A Different Perspective The term may oversimplify complex economic realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Chimera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chimera/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Conservative Handbook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-handbook-6003129/) [Conservatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives/) [Conservatives Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives-long-4805883/) [Disappeared Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappeared-conservative-6003128/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Fine tuning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-tuning/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Tuning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tuning/) ## Related quotes > [Conservatives have long been suspicious that Romney isn't truly one of them. The release of his tax returns should settle the matter once and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/conservatives-have-long-been-suspicious-that-romney-isn-t-truly-one/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Popular as Keynesian fiscal policy may be, many economists are skeptical that it works. They argue that fine-tuning the economy is a virtually impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/popular-as-keynesian-fiscal-policy-may-be-many-economists-are/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [It is relatively unusual that a physical scientist is truly an atheist. Why is this true? Some point to the anthropic constraints, the remarkable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-f-schaefer-iii/it-is-relatively-unusual-that-a-physical-scientist-is-truly-an/) [Henry F. Schaefer, III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-f-schaefer-iii/) > [Most of the model consolidation we've done is behind us. There will be some fine tuning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wagoner/most-of-the-model-consolidation-we-ve-done-is-behind-us-there-will-be/) [Rick Wagoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wagoner/) > [Amazing fine tuning occurs in the laws that make this complexity possible. Realization of the complexity of what is accomplished makes it very difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-f-r-ellis/amazing-fine-tuning-occurs-in-the-laws-that-make-this-complexity/) [George F. R. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-f-r-ellis/) > [I love that hip-hop can still provide jobs for niggas to get money and to put their crew on. I would never say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redman/i-love-that-hip-hop-can-still-provide-jobs-for-niggas-to-get-money/) [Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redman/) > [When I take on a role, all I tend to do is get to know the script and ask millions of questions, and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-okonedo/when-i-take-on-a-role-all-i-tend-to-do-is-get-to-know-the-script-and/) [Sophie Okonedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-okonedo/) > [It is sad that while science moves ahead in exciting new areas of research, fine-tuning our knowledge of how life originated and evolved, creationists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/it-is-sad-that-while-science-moves-ahead-in-exciting-new-areas-of/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [I'm always chipping away at myself, fine-tuning the music that I want to do and the influence I want to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarion/i-m-always-chipping-away-at-myself-fine-tuning-the-music-that-i-want/) [Omarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarion/) > [The bottom line is about the technique. The little things. Fine-tuning what we have to do. No matter who is out there, maybe theyre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/the-bottom-line-is-about-the-technique-the-little-things-fine-tuning/) [Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/) > [The other way is the multiverse way. That says that maybe the universe we are in is one of a very large number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-other-way-is-the-multiverse-way-that-says-that-maybe-the-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Like cars, every relationship requires a bit of an occasional service, and fine-tuning should be compulsory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/like-cars-every-relationship-requires-a-bit-of-an-occasional-service/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [I write very raw, ugly, illiterate first drafts very quickly (novels are always in first draft in under a year) and then I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porochista-khakpour/i-write-very-raw-ugly-illiterate-first-drafts-very-quickly-novels-are/) [Porochista Khakpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porochista-khakpour/) > [Traditional arguments for the existence of God and contemporary attempts to use fine-tuning and cosmology to back up the case for his existence always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/traditional-arguments-for-the-existence-of-god-and-contemporary/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Just movies in general. It's such a wonderful business as much as you feel, you are fine tuning your craft, every movie is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-wiseman/just-movies-in-general-it-s-such-a-wonderful-business-as-much-as-you/) [Len Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-wiseman/) ## More by Alex Tabarrok > [A lot of people say that India has been held back by its democracy. But lets remember that, despite being a poor country, Indias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/a-lot-of-people-say-that-india-has-been-held-back-by-its-democracy/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [The obsessive focus on a college degree has served neither taxpayers nor students well. Only 35 percent of students starting a four-year degree program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/the-obsessive-focus-on-a-college-degree-has-served-neither-taxpayers/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [Like many works of literature, Hollywood chooses for its villains people who strive for social dominance through the pursuit of wealth, prestige, and power.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/like-many-works-of-literature-hollywood-chooses-for-its-villains/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [Well-roundedness comes not from sitting in a classroom but from experiencing the larger world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/well-roundedness-comes-not-from-sitting-in-a-classroom-but-from/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [Hollywood wants its heroes to be virtuous, but it defines virtue in a way that excludes any action that is self-interested. If virtue means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/hollywood-wants-its-heroes-to-be-virtuous-but-it-defines-virtue-in-a/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [College has been oversold. It has been oversold to students who end up dropping out or graduating with degrees that don't help them very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/college-has-been-oversold-it-has-been-oversold-to-students-who-end-up/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [Patents are like fertilizer. Applied wisely and sparingly, they can increase growth. But if you apply too many chemicals, or make patents too strong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/patents-are-like-fertilizer-applied-wisely-and-sparingly-they-can/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [When the FDA forces an old drug off the market, patients have very little say in the matter. Patients have even less of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/when-the-fda-forces-an-old-drug-off-the-market-patients-have-very/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [I encourage everyone I know to sign an organ donor card, but if someone doesn't want to sign, that's his or her choice. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/i-encourage-everyone-i-know-to-sign-an-organ-donor-card-but-if/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [A bet is a tax on bullshit; and it is a just tax, tribute paid by the bullshitters to those with genuine knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/a-bet-is-a-tax-on-bullshit-and-it-is-a-just-tax-tribute-paid-by-the/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [America has the highest standard of living of any major country in the entire world. To maintain and enhance that standard of living, America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/america-has-the-highest-standard-of-living-of-any-major-country-in/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [It would be really great if I discovered a cure for cancer, but it would only be a little bit less great if my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/it-would-be-really-great-if-i-discovered-a-cure-for-cancer-but-it/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [People get used to more complex forms of entertainment, and they become bored by simpler forms. Television has become more complex in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/people-get-used-to-more-complex-forms-of-entertainment-and-they/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [As far as wages are concerned, the only difference between immigration and birth is that birth takes longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/as-far-as-wages-are-concerned-the-only-difference-between-immigration/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [Education is the key to the future: You've heard it a million times, and it's not wrong. Educated people have higher wages and lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/education-is-the-key-to-the-future-you-ve-heard-it-a-million-times/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) [Explore all 37 Alex Tabarrok quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) ## More Argument quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/) [Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) [Browse all 3,479 Argument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Conservatives have long argued, correctly, that 'fine-tuning' the economy is a chimera, but that argument seems to have disappeared from the conservative handbook.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex Tabarrok" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly-that-fine-tuning-the-economy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Argument" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly-that-fine-tuning-the-economy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/alex-tabarrok-17566_argument_conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly_778512.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/alex-tabarrok-17566_argument_conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly_778512.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/alex-tabarrok-17566_argument_conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly_778512.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Conservatives have long argued, correctly, that 'fine-tuning' the economy is a chimera, but that argument…” — Alex Tabarrok", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alex Tabarrok", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Conservatives have long argued, correctly, that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly-that-fine-tuning-the-economy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/conservatives-have-long-argued-correctly-that-fine-tuning-the-economy/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```