At EconLog, I point to a survey of economists by Robert Whaples. It seems as though there is a professional consensus on the libertarian side of the issues of free trade, school vouchers, and marijuana legalization. They also support raising the retirement age for Social Security, which is my favorite libertarian approach on that issue.


However, on health care, Whaples reports that a plurality–almost 50 percent–support universal health insurance.


This got me thinking about what the consensus belief among economists ought to be about health care. I think it ought to be that government should stop leading people to think that prepaid health plans are health insurance.


In any case, I think more members of the American Economic Association need to read Crisis of Abundance.