I don’t know whether tora3 would have posted this if he were not travelling right now:
It is a short blog written by a Harvard professor, Greg Mankiv, showing to what an extent top economists agree on burning issues:
http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2009/02/news-flash-economists-agree.html
“Fiscal policy (e.g., tax cut and/or government expenditure increase) has a significant stimulative impact on a less than fully employed economy. (90%)
If the federal budget is to be balanced, it should be done over the business cycle rather than yearly. (85%)
The gap between Social Security funds and expenditures will become unsustainably large within the next fifty years if current policies remain unchanged. (85%)
A large federal budget deficit has an adverse effect on the economy. (83%)
The government should restructure the welfare system along the lines of a “negative income tax.” (79%)”
“If we could get the American public to endorse all these propositions, I am sure their leaders would quickly follow, and public policy would be much improved. That is why economics education is so important.” Greg Mankiw's Blog: News Flash: Economists Agree