More 'Real' Economic Policy

When deciding between Friedman and Keynes on which has the more 'real' (as opposed to "correct" or "best") economic policy, I would undoubtedly side with Keynes. The two are very different attempts to describe a similar entity - the economy (though even their definition of economy might be quite different): Friedman tends to reduce his views in to simple, basic proponents of economic policy without trying to use specific details on the real-world economy. Keynesian economics is even rooted in a reaction to the Great Depression and World War II - a policy based on real-world situations instead of a simply-worded idea or concept.

In Omnivore's Dilemma, we can interpret that he (Pollan), like his fellow New York Times writers and college professors (especially in recent years) sides with Keynes, especially in his focus on government subsidies and their interaction with food/corn/agriculture/McDonald's/obesity/medicine/everything! The government as a role to play in economic policy (and as can also use fiscal policy) says Keynes.

Keynes becomes more 'real' in the way that it has our government, at least in recent decades, more and more - now it is what we know, especially under our current administration. Hence, it seems more of a 'real' argument to make for me, especially when I did not live under Reagan. Yet, it makes more sense that Keynesian economics would be more 'real' because it involves a historical reaction to realistic situations - and it is structured that way in Keynes' text, as opposed to the slightly more reductionist theories of Friedman, which are packaged in a rather simplistic (though one could argue more effective) manner.

Pollan is not what could be considered a diehard Keynesian economist. In the "sequel" or follow-up book, In Defense of Food, Pollan says "Government regulation is an imperfect substitute for the accountability, and trust, built into a market in which food producers meet the gaze of eaters and vice versa." He quotes Joel Salatin, saying "we ask for too much salvation by legislation. All we need to do is empower individuals with the right philosophy and the right information to opt out en masse." There are aspects of Pollan's argument that seem more appropriate in a system where the government is less involved, and more capitalistic interests can cause more individual accountability, perhaps reflecting a partial discordance with Keynes economics. Pollan seems perturbed with the government's, along with large private conglomerate's, influence of supply/demand, regulations, and the growing 'industrialization' of food (Away from Pollan's Rosseau-esque farm fantasy of Joel Salatin).

Eric Best