Discussion Group: The Role of Economists

There will be no reading for this week. We are going to discuss the role of economists in the political sphere. Economists have some special knowledge that is useful to voters and policy makers, but how should this knowledge be shared? Think about these three possible roles for economists:

Prescriptive advice - suggesting policies for maximizing utility, in addition to or in opposition of current policy goals.

Efficiency experts - not judging policy goals, but offering economics as a way of more efficiently achieving those goals.

Critics - "The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design" -Friedrich Hayek

Do you think one of these roles is better than others? Can you imagine a different role for economists to play? Think about what roles popular economists have been playing in the most recent election.

As always the discussion group will be held in Enterprise 318.

Join the Facebook Event!

Opponents of The Coordination Problem faced a coordination problem tonight

Unfortunately, the GMU Econ Society volleyball team, The Coordination Problem, was deprived of a game tonight due to their opponents' inability to coordinate enough players to come out to the game. No bargaining was possible - and The Coordination Problem now holds one win under their belt!

Support The Coordination Problem as they take on APO tomorrow night at 9:30pm at the RAC. Come out with an open mind, as our method of destruction will be rather creative.

This Week's Upcoming Events

GMU Economics Society Meeting
Wednesday, September 22nd, at 5:00pm
Enterprise 318


Atlas Liberty Café with Peter Boettke
Wednesday, September 22nd at 10am
At the Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC

The Atlas Economic Research Foundation hosts monthly Liberty Café’s. This month’s Liberty Café will focus on the Wall Street Journal article, "Spreading Hayek, Spurning Keynes." George Mason University Professor of Economics Dr. Peter J. Boettke will discuss the current economic crisis, its causes and a free market response. To RSVP for the event, please contact Anca.Rusu@atlasnetwork.org.

A couple of us will be going in together - we're taking the Mason to Metro shuttle at 8:40am and then taking the metro in - if you'd like to join, meet at the Mason to Metro Shuttle Stop right by Rappahannock Parking Deck. Email me at liya02@gmail.com for details or questions.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=145624268808425#!/event.php?eid=154405574577515&ref=ts


Cato on Campus: Balancing Liberty and Security in an Age of Terrorism
Friday, September 24th at 4:00pm
At the Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC

Come out to the FIRST DC Forum For Freedom Event at the Cato Institute. The event will be featuring David Rittgers, Legal Policy Analyst, Cato Institute; and Michael German, National Security Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union; moderated by Chip Bishop, Manager of Student Programs, Cato Institute.

This will be a great opportunity to meet the Cato Scholars as well as other students from George Washington University, Georgetown, American, Maryland—and more! There will be a FREE reception to follow. To register: http://www.cato.org/events/100924sf.html

If you want to metro in, a bunch of us will be meeting at at the Mason to Metro shuttle at 2:40pm and taking the metro in - if you'd like to join, meet at the Mason to Metro Shuttle Stop right by Rappahannock Parking Deck. Email me at liya02@gmail.com for details or questions. The dress code is business casual. After the event & reception, there will be the Mason Liberty Social (see next event below for details).

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=145624268808425#!/event.php?eid=152252314795032&ref=ts


Mason Students For Liberty Social
Friday, September 24th at 6:30pm
Hunan Number 1 - 3033 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA

Hunan happy hours have been a great way for Mason and DC area liberty groups to come together! Come join Mason Liberty again this year for great discussion and networking-Friday, September 24th at 6:30 pm. If you’ll be at the Cato for Campus Event on Friday, all of us will be heading to the social after the Cato event. Hope to see you guys there!

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=145624268808425


Economics Society Discussion Group
Wednesday, September 29th at 5pm
Enterprise 318

Next week’s reading will be the first History of Economic Thought paper of the semester before we dive into specific schools of thought. Email us so we can send you the paper!

Be sure to come out to the discussion group and bring your questions!

Additionally, we’ll start using the Econ Discussion Group on Facebook, so be sure to join that as well: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=160522500628158&ref=ts



Reminders:


Students for Liberty Mid-Atlantic Conference
Saturday, October 9th
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

Have you registered for the Students For Liberty Mid-Atlantic Conference yet? If you haven’t be sure to do so ASAP! Join Students For Liberty in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania birthplace of the Declaration of Independence as Drexel University’s Student Liberty Front hosts the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Regional Students For Liberty Conference. Come meet fellow students as we improve our knowledge and understand of individualism and free markets. The Mid-Atlantic Conference is your opportunity to meet other students interested in similar ideas and some of the biggest names in the liberty movement. Leave with the skills necessary to be a leader for liberty on campus, a stronger intellectual framework, connections to new friends and organizations dedicated to liberty, and a revitalized vision for the future of the freedom movement. As of now, there are over 100 registered students – you don’t want to miss out!

Registration and attendance is FREE, as are all of the events and meals during the day-long conference. Several members of the GMU Econ Society have already registered, and we're planning on carpooling up there - so if concern over transportation is holding you back, worry no longer! If you have registered for the conference and need a ride, email us back ASAP so we can start planning. And if you’ve registered and would LIKE to drive, let us know how many you’re able to take. The drive is about 2-2 ½ hours. Additionally, accommodations will be taken care of as well – just be sure to note that in your registration application and they will get you connected to stay with students at Drexel. To find out more about the conference and to register, visit: http://politicalconferences.org/2009/10/philadelphia-conference/.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1188099640258#!/event.php?eid=110082322375037&ref=ts


Fall 2010 Economics Department Welcome Reception
Thursday, September 23, 3-4:30pm
Economics Department, Enterprise 354

Econ majors and minors are invited to come enjoy refreshments and meet professors and advisers. This is a great way to meet other economics students, as well as a way to get to talk to your professors outside of a classroom environment. There will also be a raffle...you can win some free books (possibly signed by some of your professors)!

Atlas Liberty Cafe with Peter Boettke

Atlas Economic Liberty Cafe with Peter Boettke
Spreading Hayek, Spurning Keynes

This month’s Liberty Café will focus on the Wall Street Journal article, "Spreading Hayek, Spurning Keynes." George Mason University Professor of Economics Peter Boettke will discuss the current economic crisis, its causes and a free market response.

Wednesday, September 22nd
at 10:00am
Cato Institute,
1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC

A couple of us will be going in together - we're taking the Mason to Metro shuttle at 8:40am and then taking the metro in - if you'd like to join, meet at the Mason to Metro Shuttle Stop right by Rappahannock Parking Deck. Email gmueconsociety@gmail.com for details or questions.

Hope to see you there!

Russ Roberts' "Fear the Boom and Bust" a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem

A highly entertaining and educational video.... a must-watch. Enjoy & spread the word:

Wall Street Bail-out and Economic Development

With the recent financial crisis in the United States, most of the debate we hear currently entails whether or not the government should be involved in some sort of bail-out. While this would be a major intervention, William Easterly, in a today's op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, says that the U.S. will still remain largely capitalistic and the domestic effect is not the largest worry. To Dr. Easterly, the issue at hand is what message this policy choice sends to developing countries' governments. While we may be choosing between some or more intervention, he contends that developing nations are choosing between free markets and government planning for economic growth.

For better or worse, our actions and beliefs today will affect the policies for many years to come of these countries. The point Easterly makes is an important one, and echos that of F.A. Hayek in "The Intellectuals and Socialism". Whether you agree or disagree with government intervention, it is difficult to ignore the importance of the role our policy decisions play in steering developing governments' future actions.

If any of you feel inspired by this issue or any development issues, there will be an opportunity for you to share your ideas to other students and non-profit organizations in an upcoming conference at Mason. A private consulting firm Midego Inc. from Fairfax, Virginia will be co-hosting the conference with the student group Global Health Students Beyond Borders in February. Here is more info:

"The conference is entitled "Breaking with Business As Usual" and the purpose of the conference is to bring together students and professionals from all disciplines to discuss and develop strategies to reach the Millennium Development Goals.

If you are not familiar with the MDGs, they are a set of 8 health, welfare and environmental sustainability goals set by the United Nations in the year 2000 and are aimed at improving the lives of the world's poorest by improving issues related to education, poverty, public health and environmental degradation. Most of the worlds' governments have pledged to supporting these goals, but are falling short in delivering on that promise. In order to move towards them innovative strategies must be developed.

We are calling for student poster or oral presentations - abstracts are due November 30th - see the attached guidlines. This is a 250 word abstract for either a poster or 10-minute presentation. Your ideas do not have to be tested and proven, we're looking for new, innovative strategies. Take a look at the list of the MDG and their targets and I think you'll see a lot that economic students would be interested in. Ideas I can think of off hand are providing micro-loans for small businesses, balancing economic growth with environmental conservation,and dealing with debt problems in developing nations. "


I know that many of you could offer new thinking on these topics, and I plan to propose a talk for the conference as well. If any of you have any questions about this conference or wish to get the application, you can email the Econ Society at gmueconsociety@gmail.com or email Midego Inc at sara@midego.com .