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Re: [LUG] Free versus usurping [was: Another example of open vs closed source]

 

On 22/04/13 07:41, Henry Bremridge wrote:
On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 07:11:23AM +0100, tom wrote:
Given that most economists seem to think the economy can not be
modelled accurately in the first place I cant imagine them worrying
about coding minutiae.
I think this particular case was more about a "silly error" that was not
spotted. Similar such errors abound:
- The space shuttle metric and imperial measurements
- The "London Whale" and $6.2bn trading loss

http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/27.25.html#subj8

There is also a 2007 report
http://www.cio.com/article/131500/Eight_of_the_Worst_Spreadsheet_Blunders?page=2&taxonomyId=3000

The importance is making sure that careless errors are found

And that requires good programming practice - such as re-writing the code when the results are obviously bunkum. In economics if the results match reality but don’t match your political philosophy then they are rejected.
Tom te tom te tom

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