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The challenge of accounting for individual differences in folk-economic beliefs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2018

Benjamin C. Ruisch
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-7601. bcr44@cornell.eduraa255@cornell.edudap54@cornell.eduhttp://www.peezer.net
Rajen A. Anderson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-7601. bcr44@cornell.eduraa255@cornell.edudap54@cornell.eduhttp://www.peezer.net
David A. Pizarro
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-7601. bcr44@cornell.eduraa255@cornell.edudap54@cornell.eduhttp://www.peezer.net

Abstract

We argue that existing data on folk-economic beliefs (FEBs) present challenges to Boyer & Petersen's model. Specifically, the widespread individual variation in endorsement of FEBs casts doubt on the claim that humans are evolutionarily predisposed towards particular economic beliefs. Additionally, the authors' model cannot account for the systematic covariance between certain FEBs, such as those observed in distinct political ideologies.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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