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Listen to the science, people say these days, across any number of issues, from climate to COVID. Well, we should listen to the economics, too.
That’s not to imply economics isn’t a science. We do try for scientist-like rigour in making our various inferences from data. We can’t experiment as much as chemists and physicists do or as much as we’d like to. We don’t just get national economies handed to us so we can try out our pet ideas. Perhaps someone should explain why that is to Justin Trudeau, who is currently experimenting left and right with his national economy, though mainly left.
But basic economic principles should always be in play. Take masks. You can overpay wildly for designer masks if you want to. I’m sure Nancy Pelosi does: hers always seem carefully co-ordinated with her outfits. (Or maybe lobbyists send them along.) You can get Montreal Canadiens COVID masks for $14.99 a piece online. But those perfectly serviceable light blue masks cost next to nothing. Lots of places you go to these days hand them out for free. Yes, they’re an inconvenience. If you have your mask on for any length of time, your ears begin to hurt, or at least mine do. But for temporary wear while shopping or wandering around in populated spaces, they’re just not that big a deal.