June 2015
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Understanding Student Loans in the Context of Legal Education (2 of 2) (Michael Simkovic)
So how should our understanding of student loans apply to law students? Mortgages are routinely repaid over 30-years, even though owner-occupied housing is close to pure consumption (most of the value of housing is consumed as imputed rental income, with appreciation averaging only around 1 percent above inflation). Legal education typically provides a much higher rate…
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Unpacking “over-education” claims (Michael Simkovic)
Tom Friedman's latest New York Times column uses the labor market for executive assistants and executive secretaries to illustrate dubious claims about credentialing and over-education. Friedman argues that since most current executive assistants and executive secretaries don't have bachelor's degrees, employers should not try to upgrade the workforce by hiring new executive assistants and secretaries with bachelor's…
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Philosopher Jose Bermudez (Texas A&M) is biking…
…across the country (!), raising money for Habitat for Humanity.
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APA Board of Officers issues “open letter” on sexual harassment
Here. It includes a variety of useful links as well. (Thanks to Amy Ferrer for the pointer.)
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The best democracy money can buy…
…what the 1% believe and what the rest believe.
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Five companies control more than half of all academic publishing
Interesting. (Thanks to Michael Swanson for the pointer.)
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Understanding Student Loans (1 of 2) (Michael Simkovic)
A shorthand approach sometimes used to compare the cost and benefits of higher education—comparing student loan balances at graduation to first year earnings—can be seriously misleading. The implication of this approach is that student loans have to be repaid in full shortly after graduation, and that graduates’ low initial earnings will persist for the rest…
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Reflections on Tim Hunt and academic freedom
Several readers have passed on these interesting remarks. MINDLESS STUPIDITY UPDATE: Philosophy PhD student Alex Dunn replies to the preceding. (Thanks to an anonymous tipster.)
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“College is not a commodity”
Well, it shouldn't be, but under capitalism everything eventually is. (Thanks to Jeffrey Roland for the pointer.)
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Change of editors at MIND, and moratorium on submissions, July 1-October 31, 2015
Thomas Baldwin (York) asked me to share the following: At the end of September 2015 the editorship of Mind will move from Thomas Baldwin (York) to Adrian Moore (Oxford) and Lucy O'Brien (UCL). In order to ensure that this change is straightforward, the York editorial team are working to ensure that only a small number…
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Descartes and Caitlyn Jenner
The unappreciated connection! (Thanks to Rob Tempio for the pointer.)
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Wisdom from Heinrich Heine
I first encountered this famous remark of Heine's in Freud, who was discussing revenge; Heine wrote: Mine is a most peaceable disposition. My wishes are: a humble cottage with a thatched roof, but a good bed, good food, the freshest milk and butter, flowers before my window, and a few fine trees before my door; and if…
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Congratulations to the University of Chicago Law School Class of 2015!
It's been a pleasure and a privilege to teach such talented young men and women, and I am sure I speak for all of my colleagues in wishing you much professional success and personal happiness in the years ahead.
In addition to many interesting points above, I wonder if welcoming AI into the research process turns off many academics…