Future Classic Papers

The Classic Paper Club has yet to gain momentum this semester. I'm throwing out a couple nominations for further review and future discussion. Other nominations are of course welcome.


Klein, B., Leffler, K. B. (1981) The Role of Market Forces in Assuring Contractual Performance
Journal of Political Economy 89 (4), 615-641


Stigler, G. J., Becker, G. S. (1977) De Gustibus Non Est Disputandum
American Economic Review 67 (2), 76-90

Thoughts on Student Webpages

Since it appears that the intsitutional inertia will imminently be overcome, and AREC students are apt to have personal web pages spaces in the near future, I'll throw a few of my thoughts into the open. I know that there has been discussion about possible templates. (The dean made some comments about a year and a half ago, but there has been no visible website redesign since--on that note, inductive change may be the way to go.) The format that UCSB uses seems to be a good one. Much as I hate to toot Harvard's horn (they seem to do well enough on their own), their format appears to be simple and adequate. I have not made an exhaustive search on the topic, nor do I intend to. However, there will clearly be variance in how much students want/need to post, and the key to an appropriate template is to dampen this variance. Obviously those who really want vast pages can (and likely already do), and an external link makes the most sense. However, a well-considered template is likely to give the department a professional appearance. It seems that this is a field where collective knowledge is apt to be far greater than individual--perhaps a survey of students is in order to solicit preferences?

Whoa! New NYT feature is awesome.

Try double-clicking on any word in a NYT story. You instantly get a popup window with ecyclopedia-type info on whatever word you clicked. I just found it by accident. Awesome.

A Little Off Topic...

Those of you who listen to morning edition already got the short version of this story. See http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070216/NEWS02/702160305/1007 for the rest. John McCardell (ex-pres of Mumbleberry or as NESCACer Tim likes to call them, Dumbleberry) is working on a campaign to lower the drinking age to 18. Only good things can come of this.
Seriously, though, I agree with him. I can't imagine that a drinking age of 21 does anything positive for our society in the long run. The problem we will face if this becomes law (it won't) is the short run trickle-down effect. Usually 18 year olds have 21 year old acquaintances who buy them beer...under the new law 15 year olds would have 18 year old acquaintances who buy them beer. Anyway, I thought this was a cool story. Has Quebec ever enforced a drinking age higher than it does now?

Fellowship opportunities

We are constantly getting emails about fellowship opportunities for supplemental income at various points in our dissertation writing experience. It would be great to compile those somewhere central so I don't have to scroll through my email all the time. I suggest that we aggregate them in the comment section of this post. So please all, comment accordingly.

ERS Summer Interns

the summer internship cycle has started and lasts a little less than a month. if you're interested come talk to me or send me an email.

Econometrics. Q'est-ce que c'est. Fa fa fa fa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6UdgzWpjD4


Any first year gets Just to do this, and notifies me in advance so I can come watch, I pay $20.

"In house" question GEONETCAST

Does anyone know anything about accessing GEONETCAST data?
More info: http://www.earthobservations.org/progress/GEONETCast.html
You know where to reach me. If I find out more I will post follow ups.
D

Wow! I like the results from the student survey of job candidates. Here's to hoping the department pursues them aggressively.

National Parks Centennial Initiative

Go here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/02/20070207.html
to see some detail of the Bush funding proposal I mentioned earlier this week. Just scroll down a little bit until this heading: and note
The National Parks Centennial Initiative

to read about the proposed matching funds.