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From: borbor@divsun.unige.ch (Boris Borcic)
Subject: Re: "Nobel" in Economics
Message-ID: <borbor-2011950930320001@129.194.83.87>
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References: <48cfdg$nnd@Starbase.NeoSoft.COM> <48cvl1$d6t@cri.ens-lyon.fr> <VLADIMIR.95Nov19103813@sun71.mri.com> <48oiv8$gr3@mozo.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 08:30:32 GMT
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Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu comp.software-eng:39060 comp.object:40977 comp.lang.ada:37705 comp.lang.lisp:19995 gnu.misc.discuss:24908

I know this thread doesn't belong to these newsgroups, sorry
I couldn't resist :

In article <48oiv8$gr3@mozo.cc.purdue.edu>, richter@banach.math.purdue.edu
(Bill Richter) wrote:

> 
> I'm glad to hear this.  It's clear that the "Foo Nobel Prize" in
> Economics is a complete sham, they always award it to a Universe of
> Chicago economist for his work propping up the propaganda bullwarks of
> Monopoly Capitalism, 2 prizes ago it went to someone who misused
> Statistics to "prove" that Slavery was an efficient economic practice.

Once browsed an introductory bible-format textbook on economics;
amazingly the first chapter, querying the deep question 
"Is economics a science ?", concluded with the "argument" : 

"...but if it is true that physicists agree on everything and
economists agree on nothing, how can it be that the Nobel prize in
physics and that in economics are awarded in the course of the
same ceremony ?"

I am not sure I grasp the profound logic of that argument, but
it seems to imply that the point of the "Nobel" prize in economics
is not to distinguish outstanding individual economists, but rather to
provide the "Science" label to (a particular brand) of economics.
Speak of false advertising and transparency of the market... :-)

Regards,

Boris Borcic
