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Milton Friedman justifies not recalling the ford pinto

Milton Friedman justifies not recalling the ford pinto on HackerTube: recommended by 1 Hacker News commenter across 1 month, 2015–2019.

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A clip of Milton Friedman answering an audience member about Ford's decision not to recall the Pinto, in which he defends weighing safety costs against benefits. The uploader's framing is strongly hostile to Friedman.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN uses it as an example of cost-benefit reasoning about product safety in threads on recalls, security spending and Boeing.

people recommended it
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discussed on HN
2015–2019
“There is an entertaining video of Milton Friedman discussing the same issues with an audience member”
— baddox, Apr 2015, in “The Engineer’s Lament”

What HN commenters said

4 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.

baddoxApr 2015Recommends

There is an entertaining video of Milton Friedman discussing the same issues with an audience member: ▶ this video

in “The Engineer’s Lament” · View on HN

randyrandAug 2017Cites it

Reminds me of this video from the 70s/80s about Ford knowingly distributing an unsafe car - "Milton Friedman on Ford not recalling the ford pinto" ▶ this video

in “Uber Knowingly Leased Unsafe Cars to Drivers” · View on HN

wsc981Sep 2016Cites it

Narrator: A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one. The example reminds me of this discussion[0] between Milton Friedman and a student. [0]: ▶ this video

in “Defending Against Hackers Took a Back Seat at Yahoo, Insiders Say” · View on HN

75dvtwinMar 2019Critical

>consumer shopping for a car can decide how much safety they want to pay for I have seen this argument before, by a Nobel Memorial prize in economics, Milton Friedman. [1] ▶ this video Overall he said, that it is not possible, as a principle, to put 'infinite' economic value into individual life. -- Perhaps the argument can be made, that in a different situation the 'other data' pilots were to use, would increase safety. -- Either way, I think there is something wrong with Friedman's argument. 'Optionality' -- when related to safety features, should be treated very different, than optionality in, say, comfort features. Passengers themselves should not be expected to make choices which optional safety features, on a car, a bus, or plane should be purchased by the drivers/operators. Drivers, should not be expected to make these choices, either. My thinking here, is that An optionality in safety device, should change the whole major (not minor) vehicle model number designation, for example. This would drive different visible profiles: different training, cost, marketing and so on.

in “Doomed Jets Lacked 2 Safety Features That Boeing Sold as Extras” · View on HN

Topics & tags

Microeconomics & behavioral economicsCars, EVs & motorcyclesPhilosophy & ethicsmilton friedmanford pintorecallsbusiness ethicssafety tradeoffs