tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post6789515167653398064..comments2024-03-27T03:00:27.024-04:00Comments on Facts & other stubborn things: A dream class to teachEvanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12259004160963531720noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-76932083579155931712012-01-21T08:20:49.701-05:002012-01-21T08:20:49.701-05:00I tutored an economics course for engineers during...I tutored an economics course for engineers during my Honours year. From what I can recall, it was mostly along the regular non-specialist lines that you describe; covering broad themes from the role of market pricing to basic fiscal and monetary policy. However, we did try to make it a relevant to their specific field. For instance, the examples might cover policy implications for infrastructure projects... While other examples had a kind of in-built relevance; say, the determinants of exchange rates (which are obviously crucial to all mining/commodity firms, construction projects, etc).<br /><br />That said, I don't suspect that it anything as focused as you have in mind here. Moreover, I think that such a class would be more fruitfully targeted at older students... As opposed to the freshman groups, which are normally assigned to it. Of course, many non-economist majors will gain some of these from taking an MBA... although, again that is separate target audience to what you have in mind. [Side note: I've often thought that it would be very useful to have a counter-equivalent of an MBA for econ/business graduates, where you could run over the main themes and ideas in, say, physics or engineering.]<br /><br />I'm currently involved in a cross-disciplinary group that aims to bring economists together with engineers and physicists, specifically focused on energy and climate. Things are still largely in their infancy stage, but I feel there's plenty of much scope for very good collaboration -- both academically and in a business setting. It's been edifying for me to learn much more about the physical constraints and potential of different energy forms (from simple things like Betz' Law to Thorium-based nuclear power). At the same time, I think that they've also benefited a lot from seeing how a cap-and-trade system would function in a practical market setting, etc etc.Grant McDermotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11868318397832070394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-18875903589476557572012-01-20T18:02:50.963-05:002012-01-20T18:02:50.963-05:00Dude, your carburetor is flooded. Your brain'...Dude, your carburetor is flooded. Your brain's float bowl is filled with education. Take the weekend off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-32639983229833628722012-01-20T12:50:51.425-05:002012-01-20T12:50:51.425-05:00That class enjoys the opportunity of being extreme...That class enjoys the opportunity of being extremely risky. Imagine that you teach these natural scientists an interpretation of economics that leads them to support ideas which are actually incorrect. The lack of a more extensive education in economics would handicap these natural scientists from really knowing how to judge what they're being taught.Jonathan M.F. Catalánhttp://www.economicthought.net/blognoreply@blogger.com