The Rational Reminder Podcast · Thursday, August 27, 2026
David Booth highlighted the transformative impact of data availability in finance, which enabled academics to challenge Wall Street norms and develop evidence-based investment strategies. He emphasized that this 'outsider' perspective, backed by data, allowed for a more rational approach to investing.
“The big breakthrough, of course, was they had data. That's what changed everything. Before 1960, there really wasn't research quality data that you could test very many hypotheses.”
“And with that, then it's hard to refute the arguments. These are what the data show. This is it. You can argue that you don't like the data, but this is the data.”
“I believe it and I have data. You don't believe it and you don't have data. Once you get some data, come back to me.”