[PEN-L:33313] Re: Re: muscular economics

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael, I think that you would find that academic economists on average
are pretty fit.  The examples you give are exceptions.  My own personal
observations are that you will find a fairly high percentage of academics
tend to spend some time running, swimming, playing racquet sports, etc. --
probably more than the average at their income bracket -- perhaps because
they have more flexible schedules.

On Sun, Dec 22, 2002 at 12:40:22AM -0500, Michael Pollak wrote:
>
> On Sat, 21 Dec 2002, Doug Henwood wrote:
>
> > > Krugman's latest says: The Washington Post reports that one of Mr.
> > > Bush's frequent complaints about Larry Lindsey was that he didn't get
> > > enough physical exercise.
> >
> > Yeah, and an earlier article said he looked "jowly" on TV. In other
> > words, he's fat, but no one wanted to say that. Being fat is pretty much
> > verboten at the upper reaches of U.S. society now.
>
> True, but I think Krugman's delicacy is better interpreted as an
> individual case.  One of his very first columns for the NYT contained a
> right down the middle gratuituous fat joke about another recently departed
> administration economist.  He wondered about alternative employment
> opportunities for Larry Summers and wondered aloud parethentically
> ("Spokesman for Jenny Craig? Sorry, couldn't help myself").  I think he's
> actually champing at the bit to make fun of fat economists, since all the
> rivals he's most envious of (like everyone who got a job in the Clinton
> administration) are chubbier than he is.  (It may be rare among the ruling
> class, but I think roundness, if not always on a Lindsian scale, is
> actually more common that not among middle aged academic economists.)  I
> think his allusiveness here stems from a very recent acquisition of a
> veneer rudimentary tactfulness for purposes of ambition.  I think he
> really wants a job in the next Dem administration and thinks with the
> success of his column he's actually got a shot.  He was reportedly very
> hurt that all his rivals got one in Clinton's but not him.  And I heard
> the general opinion was that he was never even considered because all his
> colleagues hated his guts because he was such a rude bastard.  And after
> that inaugural column they all jumped up and said See?
>
> Michael
>

--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx