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Lies My Economist Told Me

Now this is full disclosure. "Lies my economist modeled for me" could be the name of this interesting economic conference.

Fyodor Dostoevsky's novella Notes from Underground (1864) is a classic of introspection and confession.

The symposium takes its title from Dostoevsky's work.

The prospective symposium will consist of confessional essays by economists about their existence as economists. Only genuine narrative and sincere reflection are welcome. However, essays may be anonymous.

In a rich body of highly regarded work, the Duke University economist Timur Kuran has developed a theory of preference falsification: the individual may publicly express views or attitudes that are false to his or her true private views or attitudes.

The symposium will be edited by Professor Peter Gordon of University of Southern California. Authors who wish to remain anonymous in print will nonetheless disclose their true identity to Professor Gordon, who will serve as confidante of such authors. No one else will be privy to such information.

Authors may need to disguise specific facts. Professor Gordon will verify all facts that are reasonably verifiable.

Professor Kuran will serve as an advisor to the project. In that capacity he may review some of the manuscripts at an advanced stage. He will not be privy to the identity of the authors.

The impetus of the symposium is to provide an outlet for exploring preference falsification and other forms of moral or intellectual compromise within the economics profession.

Authors are encouraged to be introspective and personal, and yet impartial. The purpose of each essay should be to share experiences that speak to situations to which many can relate.

We seek biographical essays that will help others understand widely shared problems.

Jeez, economists lying for big bucks? What next, attorneys jailed for buying experts with contingency bonuses? Naw, couldn't happen.

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Full post as published by Misleading Advertising Law on October 24, 2008 (boomark / email).