I love it when social science comes up with findings that are not what you expect. In my field, Management, probably the best example is that happier workers are not automatically more productive workers. Seriously.
Here is another fine example of counterintuitive findings. Arthur C. Brooks has written a new book entitled Who Really Cares (Basic, 250 pages, $26). A good review of the book by Wilfred M. McClay appears in the Wall Street Journal of December 22, 2006, on page W6.
The essence of the research reported in the book is that liberals give less to charity than do conservatives, blue states give less than red states, and the unchurched give less than regular church goers. These are clearly not the outcomes that author Brooks expected, nor what the conventional wisdom would predict.
Merry Christmas to one and all....
