Do Economists need an ethical code?

American Sociological Association and the American Anthropology Association have a code of ethics.  Similarly, the American Psychology Associationand the American Statistical Association both have guidelines for ethics.  Does the American Economic Association need one for economists as well? A recent petition by a group of economists called for just such a code. The petition has…

Is Health Care a Right?

NPR’s Fresh Air has an interesting interview with bioethicist Arthur Caplan, a professor from my alma matter the University of Pennsylvania.  One key point was that Dr. Caplan said, to paraphrase, that if we can all agree that health care is a right than it will be easier to move forward with health care reform.…