Economists provide sometimes contradictory information about economic systems that contribute to policy design. How does one value this type of knowledge? A political-economic game is presented that allows for reinforcing and contradictory research messages. Policy makers are assumed to follow a...

"Multilateral indices of total factor productivity (TFP) allow efficiency comparisons between ten European Union countries and the United States from 1973 to 1993. Differences in TFP levels are then explained by land quality differences, public research and development (R&D) expenditures,...