Welcome to Thomas Piketty's World

The American Economic Association conference in Boston focused on income inequality and Thomas Piketty's work. Piketty's book has sparked significant debate among economists, particularly regarding wealth inequality and taxation. The conference featured panel discussions, including one with Piketty, where key arguments about wealth definition, consumption tax, and housing wealth were discussed. Alan Auerbach shared his perspective on tax policy, emphasizing pragmatic solutions. Other sessions covered diverse topics, such as the impact of telenovelas on birth rates and church donations.

What was the main focus of the American Economic Association annual conference in Boston?

• Environmental economics

• Technological advancements

• Income inequality and Thomas Piketty's work

• Global trade policies

What unusual event occurred during the panel discussion featuring Thomas Piketty?

• A fire alarm was triggered

• There were hecklers in the audience

• The session was canceled

• A protest took place outside

What is one of the challenges in addressing wealth inequality according to the panel?

• Difficulty in defining wealth

• Lack of data on income

• Public opposition to taxes

• Insufficient government funding

What alternative to wealth tax was suggested during the discussions?

• Abolishing property tax

• Reducing corporate tax

• Implementing a consumption tax

• Increasing income tax

What model does Thomas Piketty reject, according to Alan Auerbach?

• Monetary policy model

• Representative agent model

• Supply and demand model

• Keynesian model

What did Alan Auerbach emphasize about tax policy?

• It should be idealistic

• It must be pragmatic and work in the real world

• It should focus solely on income

• It should be uniform across all countries

Which unusual topic was discussed in one of the sessions Brendan attended?

• The impact of social media on stock prices

• The effect of telenovelas on birth rates in Brazil

• The role of AI in economic forecasting

• The influence of climate change on agriculture