Why the BLS Guardrails Held — and the Census Bureau's Failed | The Professor Is In
Summary
Justin Wolfers and Megan McArdle analyze the Census Bureau’s flawed non-citizen voting report, debunking its methodology and political motivations. They discuss how politicizing statistical agencies undermines democratic institutions, contrasting this with the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ resilience. The episode concludes with McArdle announcing her departure from Platypus Economics to pursue work in public education.
Topics discussed
Intro and context on the Census Bureau non-citizen voting report
Why the report is flawed and couldn't have swayed the 2020 election
What a responsible statistical analysis of voter fraud would look like
Comparison with BLS: How institutional safeguards failed at the Census
The critical role of the Census in democracy and representation
Long-term consequences of politicizing statistical institutions
Megan's departure, whale watching, and final thanks
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