Wednesday, January 09, 2008
How the AEA is like a Science Fiction Convention
by Ken Houghton
All in all, it reminded me of a World Fantasy Convention. But someone really needs to do a study of why the book room—the only exemplar of a free market in the convention—is Members Only.
- Gushy Personnel Sightings:
- Flying down, trying to keep eyes open (or possibly close them), but the gentleman next to me is working. On Stata code. That I can almost understand. Gradually realise it was Daniele Paserman.
- My earlier prediction turns out to be, unintentionally, correct. Walk into Krugman, Blinder, Roubini, and Shiller during the Q&A session, taking a just-opened seat in the back. Find self next to Joseph Stiglitz, and about five feet from Avinash Dixit.
- Flying down, trying to keep eyes open (or possibly close them), but the gentleman next to me is working. On Stata code. That I can almost understand. Gradually realise it was Daniele Paserman.
- We Don't Need No Stinking Badges - many prominent signs indicate that badges are required, but very rarely does anyone check. I carry mine in my pocket most of the time.
- The Irrational Badge Exception—the Book room. The one place where the participants want as many visitors as possible is restricted.
- The Book Room II: Last-day sales. Andrew (who interned there last summer) picks up multiple CATO books. I get a copy of this for half-price. An electronic publisher is giving away copies of Greg Mankiw's textbook (link h/t DeLong) in electronic form.
All in all, it reminded me of a World Fantasy Convention. But someone really needs to do a study of why the book room—the only exemplar of a free market in the convention—is Members Only.
Labels: Economics, rational expectations, sf
