Irwin Collier - How Economists Used to Be Made

Economists aren't born, they're made. Irwin Collier digs into archives to find out how Paul Samuelson and his generation were made. What did they learn, and how did they learn it? While today's graduate schools focus on quantitative methods, Collier says that a background in philosophy, politics, and history is essential to the posing of interesting questions. Without such background, he says, a researcher may be likened to a greyhound who cannot tell the difference between a fake bunny rabbit and a genuine hare. Irwin Collier uncovers the seeds of old economic thinking.

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• 30 Ways to Be an Economist
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[ChrislikesJFK]

Do I have a fascinating Boss, or do I have a fascinating Boss?

[Stunr99]

This video inspires me.

[Scientisticsoviet]

I'm glad that trained economists are coming around to the idea that empirical research is difficult but very rewarding.