We’re living in a golden age of ignorance

Tim Harford: diversions, political polarisation and conspiracy thinking have all contributed to this new era. "How did it come to this? The simplest explanation — to repurpose a phrase from former US Treasury secretary Larry Summers — is: 'There are idiots. Look around.' But while there is a certain visceral satisfaction in that explanation, there is much more going on." The Undercover Economist contemplates in his Financial Times' column.