http://theunbrokenwindow.com/2008/12/21/95-of-men-are-above-average-drivers/ The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design. - F.A. Hayek Thu, 24 May 2012 03:09:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 http://theunbrokenwindow.com/2008/12/21/95-of-men-are-above-average-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-1976 skh.pcola Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:45:20 +0000 http://theunbrokenwindow.com/2008/12/21/95-of-men-are-above-average-drivers/#comment-1976 Your title cracked me up. Ask anybody who knows me and they'll confirm that <i>I believe</i> that I am at least 4 σ above the mean in driving ability. :) Your title cracked me up. Ask anybody who knows me and they’ll confirm that I believe that I am at least 4 σ above the mean in driving ability.

]]> http://theunbrokenwindow.com/2008/12/21/95-of-men-are-above-average-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-1914 Michael Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:48:04 +0000 http://theunbrokenwindow.com/2008/12/21/95-of-men-are-above-average-drivers/#comment-1914 Good stuff, although I doubt many would connect the group assignment with socialism. But another issue is that on the survey, we'd have to consider the marginal benefit of saying above average versus cost. Presumably the cost is next to nothing, maybe some guilt if you're lying while the benefit is thinking of yourself better or hoping the grade is adjusted for effort. I've been reading a book called "Predictably Irrational." I think this was the book, but it could have been a lecture by the author that shows that people can be influenced by other things. One of the things he did was have people write (or see?) the Ten Commandments and then report something against a group that had to report something. The results showed that there was almost no cheating or lying when they did the Ten Commandments, but there was a lot when they didn't. So it would be interesting if you had the class do something like that (or maybe half the class) and then state effort/quality. Good stuff, although I doubt many would connect the group assignment with socialism. But another issue is that on the survey, we’d have to consider the marginal benefit of saying above average versus cost. Presumably the cost is next to nothing, maybe some guilt if you’re lying while the benefit is thinking of yourself better or hoping the grade is adjusted for effort.
I’ve been reading a book called “Predictably Irrational.” I think this was the book, but it could have been a lecture by the author that shows that people can be influenced by other things. One of the things he did was have people write (or see?) the Ten Commandments and then report something against a group that had to report something. The results showed that there was almost no cheating or lying when they did the Ten Commandments, but there was a lot when they didn’t. So it would be interesting if you had the class do something like that (or maybe half the class) and then state effort/quality.

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