What I find interesting is that in some cases, what is generally believed by people is just...wrong.
Gender issues are controversial, but it sure looks from the data as if the gender pay gap is (at least) highly exaggerated, and also like perceptions of gender differences in medical expenditure - both research and treatment gets the sign seriously wrong.
Less controversially, the perception that the world is becoming worse, that the human condition is declining - when almost all data points in the opposite direction.
Or the perception that nuclear power is dangerous and expensive.
Or the idea that renewables (or even worse: organic and/or locally grown foods) are somehow going to help us mitigate climate change.
I try to aim for having as correct an understanding of the world as possible. But as far as I can tell, these are issues where the public just chooses to be misinformed. I wonder how that comes about, and what drives this?
(Or alternatively, if I'm the one having erroneous beliefs, where is the evidence proving me wrong)
