Last week I told one of my recitations that I read macro-economic blogs and they about fell out of their chairs . . . how strange is this guy?
I've been reading Brad DeLong's blog for about a year as a part of my growing interest in understanding global economics. I have learned a tremendous amount from listening to a prominent macro-economist write about current events. One of my math professors at Clemson maintained that if you listened long enough to any conversation you would eventually learn what was happening. As I've been listening in on DeLong's macro-economic analysis I think Clemson professor was right; my understanding of macro-economics is much, much stronger.
Recently DeLong has begun posting video clips which I have also found very interesting, both for content and as an interesting development in changing the basic way which blogs may work. Essentially it is having access to a leading economist’s thoughts without having to have it filtered through the big TV networks. I think it is pretty amazing that I can have access to his alternate (and more informed) voice on economic matters.
In the most recent one where he describes the class he has been teaching with a journalism professor on how to write good economic journalism. It's worth a listen. I heartily agree with his need for reporters to place the economic news in a proper context so that the rest of us can understand exactly how important a particular budget measure is. I know that sounds really abstruse but give it a listen and see if it doesn't make some sense.
April 22, 2006 at 4:23 pm |
This week you told one of your recitations that maybe it would be a good thing if the U.S. took over every country in the world, and pretty much no one said anything at all.
That is why no one should have recitation sections on Fridays. I’m just saying. Globalized American Imperialism = ROCK? AND NO ONE FREAKED OUT?
WHERE AM I?
April 22, 2006 at 5:40 pm |
I was hoping that people would react to that and spark some debate. I ended up having to take the other position in the afternoon section to get people talking. I was sure that at “liberal UNC” advocating American empire would get people fired up . . . perhaps it was a Friday effect.
April 22, 2006 at 5:48 pm |
I don’t know…there were some people saying that it would be awesome but the voters would never go for it, or the economy couldn’t handle it.
I just covered my face and cried. I could have gone to Berkeley.
April 24, 2006 at 8:30 am |
Here’s an off-topic comment: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my brother!
With much love from Thailand!
April 30, 2006 at 11:52 am |
I liked the idea that you can learn a lot by just listening to the conversation long enough. How hard it is to be patient to listen – I so much want to inject what I think I know into the discussion to affirm my place in it. I was thinking you used the wrong word at the end of the blog – abstruse – but apparently I was too obtuse to understand the difference!