Axiomempiricalv1
Reference class forecasting (using base rates from similar
Reference class forecasting (using base rates from similar past projects) produces more accurate estimates than bottom-up planning even when planners are experts in their domain.
Why This Is an Axiom
This is Flyvbjerg's empirical finding from megaproject research. It is foundational because it establishes that a specific method systematically beats expert intuition — not a theoretical claim but a measured outcome. The curriculum's forecasting approach depends on this being empirically demonstrated, not just theoretically sound.