[Vision2020] Wal-Mart impact studies
Jeff Harkins
jeffh at moscow.com
Sat Sep 9 13:05:40 PDT 2006
Ms Swanson,
Pay careful attention to the details of my previous post, please - if
it is not clear to you, let me help - an assumption is generally
described as " ... to take for granted; to suppose something to be a
fact (Webster's 3rd Collegiate Edition).
I found your description of Mr. Peterson's presentation
"interesting". Note my direct statement:
Your charge that Mr Peterson behaved as a "smart alec" is
interesting. I don't know exactly what you mean by that. But I was
not at the Moscow Chamber session and have no first-hand knowledge of
that presentation.
However, I have heard Steve present on numerous occasions and I have
always known him to be polite, knowledgeable, forthright and willing
to answer questions related to his research. Perhaps you could
expand on your assertion of "smart alec"?
Rather than assume anything, I asked you to clarify. You have not
done that. Interestingly, since our original posts I have chatted
with several people who were at the presentation. Their comments
were most positive about Steve's presentation - professional,
humorous, informative were terms used to describe his presentation.
It is curious that you chose to attack me for asking you to explain
"smart-alec". I did not make that claim - you did. All I did was
ask you to explain your use of the term. What, exactly, did he say
or do that provoked your attack on him?
I am curious about your claim that Steve was hired to do a
"pro-Wal-Mart" job. How do you know this? What evidence can you
offer that the arrangement was to support a particular outcome? It
sounds you have leapt to an unfounded assertion again - not all that
different from your labeling Mr. Peterson a "hack" for accepting a
fee for his work.
And, there you go again - attacking my previous post as "a
long-winded" essay. I used about 140 words in the post on
Lynn. Another of your, what appear to be, irresponsible shrieks from
the balcony.
I am also puzzled by your statement the "they won't release the data
used in his presentation". I had no trouble finding the "Key
Findings" (3 pages) or the "Executive Summary" (25 pages) at the
Moscow Chamber of Commerce website. While perusing the Executive
Summary, the methodology and references are clearly cited. The
report is predominantly descriptive in nature and the sources are
properly cited. It does not appear that the "Main Technical Report"
has, as yet, been released. However, if you have difficulty
following any of the threads, I am confident that you can contact
Steve or post your questions here.
I will inquire about the release of the "Main Technical Report" -
which I would presume would be under the control of the Moscow
Chamber of Commerce."
At 07:40 AM 9/8/2006, you wrote:
>Mr. Harkins,
>
>I attended Steve Peterson's presentation to the Chamber. I expected
>an objective presentation. It was not. I believe many others were
>disappointed including Bill Parks who expressed dismay about the
>bias during the meeting. I'm wondering why Steve or the Chamber
>didn't disclose that he was hired to do a pro-Wal-Mart job and why
>they won't release the data used in his presentation after he
>publicly announced that he would.
>
>I also find it amazing that you express an opinion on something you
>didn't attend. That makes me wonder about your other
>assumptions. Like your assumption that I agree with you because I
>didn't respond to your long winded essay. Wrong again.
>
>B. J. Swanson
>
>
>----------
>From: Jeff Harkins [mailto:jeffh at moscow.com]
>Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 9:09 AM
>To: bjswan at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Wal-Mart impact studies
>
>Ms. Swanson,
>
>Since the work by Mr. Peterson was completed as a consulting
>project, I fail to see why you would denigrate his services because
>he accepted a fee for his work. Do you use similar references for
>all professional folks who earn fees for providing services - e.g.,
>lawyers, accountants, dentists, doctors?
>
>Asserting that his presentation was "totally biased" is a rather
>serious indictment. Fortunately, because the work was completed
>under the protocols of academic research, it will be relatively easy
>to determine whether there was a significant and/or persistent bias
>introduced in his model.
>
>Since you posted on a public forum, please enlighten us as to your
>assessment of his model. There are a number of issues that you
>might have concerns about, including
>
> * Are his assumptions inappropriate?
> * Is his econometric model predisposed to an outcome?
> * Does he exclude relevant variables?
> * Does he include irrelevant variables?
> * Does the model suffer from multi-collinearity?
> * Does the model suffer from auto-correlation?
> * Does he fail to properly interpret the research findings
> * Did he fail to note potential shortcomings or limitations of his work?
>Again, please provide some rationale for your assertion of bias - my
>instincts suggest that unless you can point to specific elements of
>bias that you are invoking the "I don't like the message, so let's
>kill the messenger" strategy.
>
>Your charge that Mr Peterson behaved as a "smart alec" is
>interesting. I don't know exactly what you mean by that. But I was
>not at the Moscow Chamber session and have no first-hand knowledge
>of that presentation.
>
>However, I have heard Steve present on numerous occasions and I have
>always known him to be polite, knowledgeable, forthright and willing
>to answer questions related to his research. Perhaps you could
>expand on your assertion of "smart alec"?
>
>Finally, since you did not offer any additional comments on my
>contributions to understanding Barry Lynn's writings, am I to assume
>that you agree with me that Mr. Lynn is advancing an agenda of
>returning the US economy to a more highly-regulated by government
>state (e.g., pre-Reagan era)? And as you ponder that, are you
>willing to have the US banking industry return to the level and type
>of regulation that existed before the Reagan era?
>
>
>
>At 10:23 PM 9/6/2006, you wrote:
>>Mr. Harkins,
>>
>>A deeper meaning of Hack: Economist for Hire.
>>
>>After Steve Petersons totally biased and smart alec presentation to
>>the Chamber of Commerce on August 23, I think he earned the title
>>and lost credibility. I hope he can manage to be a bit more
>>objective when he presents Why is Moscow Growing to the City
>>Council later this month.
>>
>>B. J. Swanson
>>
>>
>>----------
>>From: Jeff Harkins [ mailto:jeffh at moscow.com]
>>Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 10:07 AM
>>To: bjswan at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
>>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Wal-Mart impact studies
>>
>>Ms. Swanson,
>>One final point - please explain the reference to "The Hack"
>>inserted between Steve and Peterson. What exactly are you
>>attempting to say with that moniker? Is it just simple name calling
>>or do you have a deeper meaning in mind?
>>
>>
>>At 06:27 AM 9/6/2006, you wrote:
>>
>>Steve,
>>
>>Thanks for posting. I hope Jeff Harkins and Steve "The Hack" Peterson read
>>it, too. Here's the link:
>>
>> http://www.harpers.org/BreakingTheChain.html
>>
>>B. J. Swanson
>>
>>------------------
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [ mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
>>On Behalf Of Stephen Cooke
>>Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 2:17 PM
>>To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>>Subject: [Vision2020] Wal-Mart impact studies
>>
>>fyi,
>>SCC
>>
>>Barry C. Lynn
>>"Breaking the Chain: The Anti-Trust Case Against Wal Mart:" Harper's Mag.
>>(July '06).
>>
>>
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