This chapter explores the challenges and uncertainties in social science research, emphasizing the limitations of models and the role of randomness. It discusses the implications of these challenges for understanding the world and making decisions. The chapter also examines the influence of social science on public policy and questions the actual impact it has on politicians.
How did a husband-and-wife vacation end up saving a city from the atomic bomb while destroying another? And how did a century-old murder of one family bring another into existence? Easily, explains political scientist Brian Klaas of University College London, who points out that history is replete with chance events that profoundly shaped both society and individual lives. Listen as Klaas discusses his book Fluke with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. Klaas argues that recognizing the randomness of everyday life and history can lead to a newfound appreciation for the meaning of every decision, and to a focus on joyful experimentation instead of relentless optimization.