From: Robin Hanson (hanson@econ.berkeley.edu)
Date: Wed Mar 03 1999 - 16:56:21 MST
On 1/26/99 Mark Crosby wrote:
>---T0Morrow@aol.com wrote:
>> Query, though, whether Krugman knows much about
>>biology. I recall thinking that his criticisms of
>>bioeconomics were about half-right.
>
>I recall this also ;)
>
>> >Paul Krugman is a very good economist. Robin Hanson
>
>Does "very good economist" mean he knows how to
>construct models? Krugman is certainly very good at
>being a controversial talking head... The following
>might be of interest ...
>"Friedrich Hayek and Joseph Schumpeter have many
>modern admirers .. But were they great economists? I
>don't think so." Paul Krugman, _Slate_, Dec. 2, 1998
>[CUT - huge number of quotes from distinguished
>economists citing Hayek's insights as essential to
>their own work.]
>... I objected to his having
>written that, before John Maynard Keynes came along,
>the world's understanding of recessions was "in a
>state of arrested development." Wasn't he familiar
>with the Austrian theory of business cycles, ...
Academics are in general terrible at the history of
academia, and Krugman is no exception. Academics
are expected to have opinions on the history of their
field, but most have neither the time nor inclination
to do thorough research on the subject.
I agreed almost entirely with Krugman's assessment
of Bionomics, and have great respect for his academic
work. I have also like most of his stuff for public
consumption - he is refreshingly non-ideological
and clear headed.
Robin Hanson
hanson@econ.berkeley.edu http://hanson.berkeley.edu/
RWJF Health Policy Scholar FAX: 510-643-8614
140 Warren Hall, UC Berkeley, CA 94720-7360 510-643-1884
after 8/99: Assist. Prof. Economics, George Mason Univ.
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