That most excellent of libertarian/econ blogs, Marginal Revolution, reports on a situation in India -
India receives 90% of its rain during monsoon season so forecasting monsoons is critical for productive farming. Fortunately, according to an article in Nature (subs. req.), the Indian Meteorological Department has found a way to make its forecast better than any other available - they have suppresed publication of the other forecasts. The Indian government says this is necessary to prevent “confusion.”…[a competitive] Institute, for example, forecast that rainfall would be 34% below average in June and 12% below average in July while the government forecast “normal or above normal rains.” The rainfall in June? 35% below average.
Sigh. Good thing Indian farmers have entrenched bureaucrats with guaranteed paychecks scraped off taxpayer backs watching out for them.
