A critical review of 'Why Nations Fail' that examines the authors' academic work and methodology, while questioning the book's quality and practical implications. Longer summary

This review critiques 'Why Nations Fail' by Acemoglu and Robinson (AR), arguing that while the book itself is not very good, AR's academic papers present a more compelling case for their thesis that political institutions are the main determinant of economic growth. The reviewer explains AR's methodology using instrumental variables, discusses their evidence and criticisms, and ultimately concludes that even if AR are correct, their extremely long-run focus may not be very useful for practical policymaking or development efforts. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander critiques the Social Model of Disability as flawed and proposes the Biopsychosocial Model as a more balanced alternative. Longer summary

Scott Alexander critiques the Social Model of Disability, which claims that disability is solely caused by societal barriers and not by individual impairments. He argues that this model, while well-intentioned, is flawed and often taken too literally. Scott proposes the Biopsychosocial Model as a more balanced alternative, acknowledging both biological and social factors in disability. He discusses the history of the Social Model, its limitations, and why a more nuanced approach is necessary for understanding and addressing disabilities. Shorter summary