tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208928.post6385033547488043242..comments2024-03-29T09:33:11.680-04:00Comments on Start Making Sense: The word from WashingtonDaniel Shavirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14710628584922961682noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208928.post-86121649950670837962007-10-06T22:07:00.000-04:002007-10-06T22:07:00.000-04:00Drew, I'm glad you had a better experience there, ...Drew, I'm glad you had a better experience there, but there is a great deal of discouragement on the professional Treasury staff. It's very widespread and I've heard about it from a lot of sources. I also have friends in other agencies who report similarly. And I don't even know anyone at DOJ - I can hardly imagine what it's like there.<BR/><BR/>You may have been there at a better time. When Glen Hubbard was in the Administration, along with people such as Kent Smetters, possibly things were better at least at some levels for economics people whether in Treasury or elsewhere. Also, you got to work on some things where principled analysis actually did take place (e.g., the tax expenditures stuff). But the story at this point from many parts of the executive branch is pretty clear.Daniel Shavirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14710628584922961682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208928.post-16259491309453891272007-10-06T17:06:00.000-04:002007-10-06T17:06:00.000-04:00Dan -Are you trying to compete with Krugman?I have...Dan -<BR/><BR/>Are you trying to compete with Krugman?<BR/><BR/>I have to say that my experience at Treasury (2001-2003) was not the "horror" you note. <BR/><BR/>I did have struggles with political appointees in other agencies -- and, yes, I would say that some of their motives appeared to be purely partisan rather than just turf -- but I don't believe it ever affected our analysis or recommendations to the Secretary or to the White House. (Someone once told me -- a decade before I came to Treasury -- that if you can't work in this environment, it's a bit like a doctor complaining about working around sick people.)<BR/><BR/>I have a great deal of respect for the career folks I worked with and believe most of them know how to try to get the best policy proposed (and keep the worst policies from being proposed)regardless of which party is in control.<BR/><BR/>Drew LyonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com