My Daughter's Thoughts on Economic Policy

That's some pretty mature thinking coming from an elementary schooler. Good job!

That is a very nice letter written for someone only nine years old. I am curious if the letter was graded and what grade was received. Of course, I wonder if the teacher was a statist and gave it a lower grade because of the non-coercive nature of the letter.

Can you guess which paragraph I liked best?

The second, obviously.

Dear Tom,
Thanks. And thanks also to David. There's no grade on it. There are two comments, though. Beside the paragraph about auctions, she wrote, "Unique solution." Beside the paragraph about the snow leopards' beauty, she wrote, "Good rational." Of course, she meant "Good rationale." No comment beside the paragraph about taxes.
Blackadder: Bingo.
Best,
David

Of course we all love our children.

But you have ample reason to be very proud of your daughter - already at only 9 years of age she makes important distinctions, and probably understands more about economics than many members of the Congress.

So did Karen follow in dad's footsteps? Seems she has some genetic predilection for the economic way of thinking, and perhaps some natural interest in auction theory and market design.

David R. Henderson: "Bingo"

? ... Despite your claim, I'm guessing the very, very last one:

"Karen G. Henderson"

But, then, it would be hard to find a more delightful person than a 9 year old daughter. 4 year old son, maybe. Or grownup kids. Great ages, all.

Dang, Felix beat me to the joke. I was going to say, "If she had signed with a name other than her maiden one, I think you would have been alarmed."

If I had a kid, I'd want my kid to be just like your kid. What a delightful daughter you have. And what predictable comments from the teacher. It's very sad when a solution that doesn't involve coercion is considered unique.

For several reasons, this post kind of made my day. Thanks for sharing it.

Some of the most insightful thinking I've seen from a nine year old.
Definitely not a keynesian.

How does a nine-year-old come to have friends in all 50 states?

"How does a nine-year-old come to have friends in all 50 states?" -FXKLM

The internet?

"How does a nine-year-old come to have friends in all 50 states?"

Good question. I think she exaggerated. This was 1994, before our family used the internet.

Unbelievable actually.

As an economist, the favorite paragraph is number 2.

As a naturalist or animal lover, of course number 4.

As a business person who appreciates an orderly good plan, paragraph number 3

As a professor who grades papers, paragraph number 1, as it has an excellent opening topic sentence

As father, the whole thing!

Very impressive for such a young lady.

If the letter had ever arrived on Clinton's desk, he may very well have given it serious thought. He did, after all, have a soft spot for cats. Alas, poor Socks has passed.

I read this earlier in the day and figured the second paragraph was your favorite.

The last paragraph caught my interest, because your daughter understood that even though the animal doesn't provide food, it still has intrinsic value; so, in essence there would be an exchange of a good for a service.

I also felt that the last paragraph demonstrated an artistic nature. I hope that she has continued to write.

LOL good rational

I'm impressed she has friends in all 50 states! I don't even have 50 friends!

I read your intro and the first paragraph, and continued rolling my eyes.

Then I read the next 3 paragraphs. Normally I can't stand cooing at young childrens' letters, but this one is different. It's adorable, clever, and well above the level a normal 9-year old writes at.

Is she still sympathetic to your libertarian views?