How do you know which economic sources and arguments are credible?

Some counterpoints: - A strong incentive of academics is to publish novel results. There is little incentive for maintaining and incrementally refining models and data. - Economists disagree about many things, something can be both credible and wrong. - If you think pay is a reasonable proxy for efficacy, you shouldn't be looking at government or your average academic as the most effective sources. -I know first hand that Fed officials found certain blogs very credible. The median garbage, but the tail leads econ journalism. -Every applied economist should take a deep dive into the construction of government data. Govt is trying hard but "data" is inevitably fraught with embedded assumptions. It's good for humility.

Scientific journals use evaluation formats for their articles, which try to take into account aspects that evaluate their relevance. Thus, for this magazine six elements are present: • Quality or academic level • Originality • Contribution to knowledge • Clarity in the presentation and writing of ideas • Relevance and mastery of bibliography • Interest and topicality of the topic These elements can be adequately evaluated by an expert reader, but not by a reader who is just starting out in this type of academic work. This point marks the differentiation between evaluation and critical reading. That is, the evaluation formats of the journals try, as their name indicates, to evaluate the article.

In my experience articles which cite opposing papers or commentaries with credible well-known facts from literature are sources which are unbiased and are trustworthy

Peer-reviewed journals are preferred sources, as they undergo rigorous scrutiny by experts in the field before publication. This helps ensure the quality and validity of the research. Published research papers have usually undergone a review process that examines their methodology, data sources, and conclusions.

A pivotal aspect in discerning credibility is the source of the economic information. It is imperative to tread cautiously when dealing with sources that lack transparency or are unfamiliar within the economic community. Guarding against bias is another critical dimension of evaluating economic information. It is essential to investigate potential conflicts of interest or funding sources that could sway the content's objectivity. The foundation of credible economic analysis rests upon the quality of data and the soundness of methodology. The credibility of economic arguments is enhanced by citing and referencing established research. Readers can always gauge the depth to which a source is rooted in reputable economic research.

Evaluate the data sources used in the research. Reliable data from official government sources, reputable research institutions, and established databases enhance the credibility of the argument. Consider the research methodology. Is it sound and well-documented? Does it adhere to generally accepted research practices in economics?

The bibliographic search is a process whose objective is to identify and locate bibliography on a certain topic. We can identify the following steps: 1.- Be clear about the objective of the search. 2.- Identify the concepts about which you want to obtain information and make a list of the terms that will represent them. 3.- Select the source of information to consult. 4.- Plan the search strategy. what tools do I use? Online (web) and offline (files/libraries) 5.- Launch the search strategy and review the results obtained. 6.- If necessary, modify the search and launch it again.

Question how data and evidence were collected, processed and presented. Identify adopted assumptions, models and structures. Verify that limitations, uncertainties and caveats are acknowledged. Assess how errors, biases, and confounding factors were addressed. Be wary of incomplete or misleading methods, and of sweeping conclusions without solid justification.

Remember to check the source of the data and logic as well, and critically analyze whether the sources can and should be used to support the logic in the presented way. Same data can sometimes be used to support opposing arguments depending on how and what of it is presented.

The CRAAP test and the SIFT test. The CRAAP exam shows you a series of questions you can ask yourself to determine if information is reliable and useful. The SIFT test is a series of “moves” you will take to evaluate information. There are five parts to the CRAAP Test: CURRENCY: When was the information published? For some themes, it's okay to use an older font. For example, if you want to know what DNA is, it's okay that the source was published five years ago. But, if you're researching what the latest DNA discoveries are, a five-year source wouldn't be useful. RELEVANCE: For example, an article aimed at educating young children about DNA would probably not be a relevant source if you work for a technology firm

1 Find: - Plan searches. - Handle different search tools. - Obtain references. 2.- Evaluate: - Discriminate what is valid and what is not valid. 3.- Use: - Use information efficiently, legitimately and reactively. - Process the collected documentation. - Manage bibliographic databases. - Write quotes and references in your own texts.

To assess the credibility of information in an economics article, it is important to consider the following aspects: Timeliness: Is the information current and relevant to the current moment? Relevance: Is the information relevant to the objective of the article? Adequacy: Is the information appropriate to the reader's level of knowledge? Source reliability: Is the source reliable and qualified to present the information? Data accuracy: Is the data accurate, reliable and verifiable? Objectivity of purpose: Is the purpose of the article clear, objective and impartial? The answers to these questions provide a valuable overview of the credibility of the information.

An example I have seen, it´s the political bias, many think-tanks use economic arguments to fundament their own political views, missing by defect the objectivity of the interpretation, and missguiding the general public regard narrow or broad economical observations.

In economic articles, the credibility of arguments is sharpened in the debate. By comparing and contrasting sources, we identify nuances of scope (general vs specific), depth (thorough analysis vs superficial overview), balance (neutrality vs bias) and evidence (robust vs fragile). When dissecting implications (significant vs trivial consequences), strengths and weaknesses, gaps and controversies emerge. In this clash, not only is veracity tested, but your own perspective is also forged. Armed with a spectrum of views, we base judgments and refine opinions. The debate, far from being a mere clash, is the crucible where economic credibility is tempered.

To determine the credibility of economic sources and arguments, follow these steps: - Author Credentials. - Source Reliability. - Peer Review. - Citations and References - Bias Awareness. - Data and Methodology. - Consensus Among Experts. - Historical Context. - Fact-Checking. - Critical Thinking. - Multiple Sources. - Expert Opinions. Remember that credible sources may still have differing opinions, and economic forecasts often come with uncertainty. Evaluating evidence and reasoning is crucial to assess the credibility of economic arguments.

Cross-referencing requires comparing information from multiple credible sources to confirm if the argument holds water. While cross-referencing you will come across differing perspectives which will expose you to different interpretations of economic data and give you comprehensive knowledge that can help in debunking misinformation and reduce bias.

Here are some tips in order to select information from the WEB: - General search engines (Google) - Specialized search engines (Google Academic, Academic research Microsoft). - Documentary databases. (Scopus, Scielo, Dialnet) - Catalogs (REBIUN) - Other sources (Eurostat, INE)

It's okay if a source isn't perfectly relevant to your research question, as that's where analysis comes into play. For example, if you were researching the Housing Crisis in Vancouver, you could read about how expensive cities like San Francisco and Hong Kong are dealing with their own housing crises to get ideas. AUTHORITY: Your source should be written by someone who has the authority to speak on the matter. For example, you might come across a blog offering natural health remedies for cancer or depression written by someone who claims to be a doctor. If they are doctors because they have a PhD in English Literature, however, then they would not have the authority to offer medical advice.