<p>I don't really know much about the econ jargon "rational ignorance" and I am sure that it has its value since it has been invented by economists. A lot of the posters on this thread keep saying that since America is the most powerful and one of the biggest countries in the world, and since English is an universal language, Americans are justified in just caring about their own country and being ignorant about the rest of the world. True, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. There is indeed no economic incentive to know about another country or learn another less-spoken language when one's home country is the world's superpower. After all, America is a capitalist country that values pragmatism and economic benefits. Americans have a reason be rationally ignorant about the rest of the world, as many of you call it.
But is every thing that is economically advantageous absolutely correct. Is it correct in the light of moral standards. Perhaps, moral standards may sound too far-fetched to many of you. So how about is it correct in the context that every American is also a member of the global community? Rational ignorance may be justified by the idea of pragmatism and economic interest. But the persons who chose to be rationally ignorant can't expect to be rational in other aspects. Americans are perhaps more attracted to the idea of rational ignorance than people from other countries, since lets not forget America is the land where self-interest prevails (ever read Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of Vanities?) and where self-interest is the backbone of American democracy. During WWII, America closed its door to thousands of hundreds of Jewish refugees from Europe. Why let the Jews in when there might be the danger of entangling itself in the war. So Americans chose to be rationally ignorant. Unfortunately, this invocation of rational ignorance was not correct, it was morally wrong.
I am not, however, saying that it's morally wrong for Americans to not know more about another culture. But rational ignorance sure doesn't change the fact a lot of Americans know very little about China, or the rest of the world. Learning more about the Chinese and other cultures doesn't save your car assurance, absolutely right. There is no denial that being ignorant costs less than becoming aware.<br>
Nevertheless, however rational ignorance is practical and economically sound, it is also unfortunate and sad.</p>