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Who here has had the misfortune of doing an economics degree?

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Justin D replied on Mon, Mar 16 2009 11:15 AM

It all depends on what you want. I see my private Austrian study as adequate for me. College otherwise is for preparing me for the work place. (at least getting that  piece of paper I need to work). I could go to school a few blocks over at Pace and learn from Joe Salerno, but the opportunity-cost for me isn't worth it.  But if cost isn't a real issue for you then by all means go where ever. With PHD work I may think different but for undergrad/MBA work, I will say no.  When I graduate it will make no difference employers that I studied austrian economics in school, or at home, or even at all, in regards to getting a job.

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eliotn replied on Mon, Mar 16 2009 11:46 AM

GilesStratton:

Just curious as to who has subjected themselves to this punishment besides myself.

GilesStratton, I am very interested in economics.  But what would be a better degree, if economics is bad?  I am interested in math, computer science, history, and maybe philosophy.

Schools are labour camps.

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Stranger replied on Mon, Mar 16 2009 12:02 PM

eliotn:

GilesStratton:

Just curious as to who has subjected themselves to this punishment besides myself.

GilesStratton, I am very interested in economics.  But what would be a better degree, if economics is bad?  I am interested in math, computer science, history, and maybe philosophy.

Speaking strictly of future employment opportunities, computer science is your best bet.

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maxpot46 replied on Mon, Mar 16 2009 12:21 PM

nirgrahamUK:
please tell me where the money is
Entrepreneurship.

"He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper." Edmund Burke

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maxpot46 replied on Mon, Mar 16 2009 12:25 PM

GilesStratton:
Indeed, on the other hand I'm aiming to do a masters in law, which seems less dull and it seems as if lawyers earn more than economists.
Both lead to careers doing long hours of drudge work for the man, playing office politics to advance (while wondering why everyone calls it a meritocracy when it so obviously isn't) and avoiding emotional landmines while trying to deal with irrational colleagues.  If that makes you happy, good luck...  otherwise, I suggest entrepreneurship.

"He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper." Edmund Burke

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I've got a masters degree in business and economics (in Europe, so it's not the same as an MBA). I hated the macroeconomic classes! The subject seems to be based on spurious correlations between ill defined aggregate variables collected from error filled public statistical databases. Microeconomics made much more sense since it has a logical, and actually praxeological, base. Finance has obviously grown out of microeconomics. I've always been kind of pro free markets, but it was only thanks to Ron Paul that I've discovered AE. I think I would've enjoyed macroeconomics more if I had had AE as a reference.

What I really liked was courses relating to analytic business administration (like finance, cost/income calculation and some entrepreneurship topics like making or evaluating a startup business plan). Microeconomics is a necessary foundation for that, of course. Soft subjects like marketing and organization theory never really appealed to me. They can be entertaining, but too fuzzy for me. And I don't even consider accounting to be a part of economic science, it's strictly a legal phenomena created by politicians. It's funny to see how lawyers and bureaucrats are trying to use numbers! They like to put them in small boxes, it seems. The subject never gets analytical beyond applying the arithmetic operator "division" to two sums. And the Solar cycle is strangely holy to them...

 

It's not fascism when the government does it.

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GilesStratton, I have a J.D. and have practised for about fifteen years.  There are good and bad things to the practice.  My economics degree served me well in law school.  By the way, the degrees in law are backwards, in the US.  First you earn a doctorate (JD) then you can pursue a masters (LLM).  Good luck to you.

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Lyle D. Riggs:
By the way, the degrees in law are backwards, in the US.  First you earn a doctorate (JD) then you can pursue a masters (LLM).

Ah, Ok. I didn't know. Thanks for the information.

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banned replied on Mon, Mar 16 2009 8:25 PM

eliotn:
I am interested in math, computer science, history, and maybe philosophy.

Where do you live and do you have any preferences in where your school is?

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eliotn replied on Tue, Mar 17 2009 8:24 AM

banned:
Where do you live and do you have any preferences in where your school is?

Colorado (although I want to go far from there), and I don't have too many prefrences about where it is at the moment, just looking at options.

Schools are labour camps.

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Luna replied on Tue, Mar 17 2009 8:34 AM

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I have a BS in Economics from the school of business. It was great, although it was Keynes oriented. I am myself a follower of no particular school of thoughts but regarding monetary economics (which to me is the most important thing in a free market economy) I agree with Mr. Milton Friedman.

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Luna:
I have a BS in Economics from the school of business.

 Are you saying that you have a BullShit of Economics???Yes

It's not fascism when the government does it.

“We must spend now as an investment for the future.” - President Obama

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I've got a place to do a Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree next year.

I don't see how they can twist the philosophy into despicable useless shit, but I can see them doing that with the politics and economics - although it's always good to know one's enemy. And my earnings potential will be high if I go for a regular job - although the only thing I want to do at the moment is be an entrepreneur/professor-lecturer.

But then I'm only 18.

Where did you go to uni Giles?

The difference between libertarianism and socialism is that libertarians will tolerate the existence of a socialist community, but socialists can't tolerate a libertarian community.

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Thedesolateone:
Where did you go to uni Giles?

I'm still in my first year at Exeter, it's hardly great. But that's what happens when the English university system screws you over and you don't study for the last two years of high school

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"

Bob Dylan

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I've got a place to do a Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree next year.

I'm considering doing a Masters in that at York, sans the politics part though (though formally it is a PPE degree too.)

To darkness I condemn you...

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Damian replied on Tue, Mar 17 2009 2:53 PM

B.S. in Economics from Arizona State.

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banned replied on Tue, Mar 17 2009 3:22 PM

eliotn:
and I don't have too many prefrences about where it is at the moment, just looking at options.

check out Santa Clara University. I'm transferring there to get a degree in computer engineering. The economics classes supposedly are more austrian bent, and David Friedman is one of the law professors. They also have the Civil Societies Institute on campus, which is a libertarian think tank.

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Luna replied on Wed, Mar 18 2009 8:40 AM

ProudCapitalist:

Luna:
I have a BS in Economics from the school of business.

 Are you saying that you have a BullShit of Economics???Yes

I think you speak for yourself.

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Luna replied on Wed, Mar 18 2009 8:41 AM

GilesStratton:

Thedesolateone:
Where did you go to uni Giles?

I'm still in my first year at Exeter, it's hardly great. But that's what happens when the English university system screws you over and you don't study for the last two years of high school

So you are a non educated moderator. How so??

 

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GilesStratton:

Thedesolateone:
Where did you go to uni Giles?

I'm still in my first year at Exeter, it's hardly great. But that's what happens when the English university system screws you over and you don't study for the last two years of high school

I didn't apply for Exeter - but it's supposed to be a rather good uni - but then what do I know?

EDIT: Seeing as you'd previously mentioned you were 18 you'd have to have been a ridiculous child prodigy to have already been out of university, or a dropout.

The difference between libertarianism and socialism is that libertarians will tolerate the existence of a socialist community, but socialists can't tolerate a libertarian community.

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