We need to learn to work with political systems that are not perfect instead of taking the view: let's first fix the politics, then we'll fix the rest.
Abhijit BanerjeeRead
Here is an entirely banal idea that I think has the potential to change the world: Take evidence seriously. Taking evidence seriously does not mean privileging numbers over all other forms of knowledge - theories, narratives, images. Nor does it mean the kind of radical skepticism that questions everything to the point where no action is possible.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of considering evidence in decision-making without dismissing other forms of knowledge or succumbing to skepticism.
In this quote, Abhijit Banerjee advocates for a balanced approach to evidence, suggesting that taking evidence seriously is crucial for fostering understanding and making informed decisions. He cautions against merely valuing quantitative data over other valuable insights such as theories and narratives, and warns against extreme skepticism that can paralyze action. The quote suggests that a thoughtful engagement with evidence can lead to meaningful change while still appreciating the richness of different types of knowledge.
Themes
EvidenceKnowledgeDecision-MakingSkepticismUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about data-driven policymaking, this quote can serve to remind participants to value all forms of knowledge.
More from Abhijit Banerjee
All quotes →In the development business doing something for both women and the environment is the equivalent of holding a royal flush in poker.
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One problem with globalisation is that bad ideas seem to travel faster than good ones; first there was smearing tomato ketchup on everything; then drinking sugar-soaked cocktails ('Cosmo'-politanism) instead of our traditional whisky soda, and now this idea that we should abandon the poor to their fate in order to protect their dignity.
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Will we make all poverty history? No. But can we solve some of these extreme and egregious forms of poverty? I think yes, and we should.
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The Korean government is the first to declare that if you replace people with machines you have to pay a tax. It's a tax on robots. They make private companies internalise the social cost of unemployment. Social benefit is not the same as private benefit. We have to realise this.
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Most farmers know that their children's future will probably not be in agriculture, but they have a hard time imagining a different life.
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