Clever Quote by Arnold Kling
“The gap between what one knows and what one thinks one knows may be higher in the ranks of the elite. The result is supposedly-clever government interventions, introduced with excessive confidence, leading to disastrous results.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Economics of Governance, 2018
Elite overconfidence creates overly clever policies that backfire.
In simple terms: Elite think they know more, causing bad policies.
Key Takeaway
Question authority’s expertise.
Themes
politics
elite
policy failure
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government reforms
- corporate strategy
- public administration
Key Concepts
overconfidence
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we improve policy making?
- What checks balance overconfidence?
A Different Perspective
Not all elite insights are flawed.
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