Polls, or the art of always being wrong

THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION (3/4). Growing polarization, defeat of the polls and the Democrats... This series of articles aims to present some lessons to be learned from Donald Trump's new election as head of the United States.

It's fashionable to say of economists that their profession was created to make astrologers more credible. It is, however, uncommon - though still relevant - to include pollsters in this maxim. As with every election, polling organizations are a key element in political life, attracting a great deal of media attention. At times a reliable metric for objectively analyzing global trends, at other times a tool for encouraging people to vote, it is difficult to imagine a moment of democracy without its share of opinion polls.

In 2016, U.S. polls e