Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/77653 
Year of Publication: 
2013
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 4261
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
Although Australian political pundits frequently make predictions about the future, little systematic evidence exists on the accuracy of these predictions. To assess the predictive power of experts, we survey the transcripts of two well-known political programs - Insiders and Meet the Press - and record all falsifiable forecasts. Looking at the three months prior to both the 2007 and 2010 Federal elections, we are struck by the paucity of falsifiable predictions, with most pundits heavily qualifying their predictions (so that they can never be said to be wrong). In 32 hours of television, we identify 20 falsifiable forecasts in our sample, of which we judge 13 to be correct. We conclude with some suggestions for political talk shows and for political scientists seeking to better analyse expert predictions.
Subjects: 
expert prediction
forecast accuracy
elections
JEL: 
D70
D80
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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