Re: The Prize by Any Other Name

[larson@xxxxxx]

There is a good reason why Alfred Nobel never instituted an economics prize. It
is not the case, as one sometimes hears, that economics was not a developed
science in Scandinavia a good century ago - one need not go farther than to
Wicksell to see how wrong that is. So Nobel was probably well aware of
economics. However, our discipline was then, and still is, fundamentally a
moral science, and you can't compete in morale. You can achieve excellence in
ethics - the study of morale - and you can have high moral standards as an
individual. But if competition in morale had been a good idea it would not have
been awarded a Nobel prize; it would have been part of the Olympics.

As a principle I object to the Bank of Sweden prize, but if I disregard that
principle for a moment I'd vote for Paul Davidson. But his chance of winning it
is as big as Astrid Lindgren's is to win the Literature prize.

Besides, Paul can be happy not having to go to Sweden to recieve the medal. All
the decent folks not doubt left that place last century.

E Svecia Nil Nisi Male,
/srl

Quoting John Gelles <johng@xxxxxxxxxx>:

>         My sincere thanks to Per Gunnar Bergulund for
>         allowing us to share thoughts about Alfred Nobel,
>         the Royal Academy of Science's Committee for
>         the Bank of Sweden Prize in economics, the
>         difference between doing good as a scientist and
>         doing your best as an economist, and the current
>         feelings of certain heirs of Alfred Nobel.
>
>         Similar thanks must go to all involved in the Nobel
>         prizes, including the heirs above and the actual
>         people who have awarded the many prizes over
>         the years, as well as those who got the prizes.
>
>         If we look at all the prizes that get our attention,
>         the Nobel's stand up as the best if our measure is
>         close to Albert Nobel's expressed intention. No
>         doubt the record is less than perfect. But the
>         awards are deserving of the good reputation
>         most of them enjoy.
>
>         As to economics?  Can ant good come of it?
>         Was the warm feeling many of us had when
>         Vickery won the prize totally bogus?  I don't
>         think so.
>
>         We wish God, himself, gave prizes -- and that
>         he always consulted each one of us before he
>         did. Our wish has been denied. But the Nobel
>         prize in economics, if awarded to one of our
>         own, makes it a better day.
>
>         Yes, it has often gone to winners we didn't
>         respect. Bus is not the acid test: "Do we prefer
>         the prizes, with all their faults, to a different
>         world -- where news of the lesser prizes we
>         suffer were all we ever heard?'
>
>         John Gelles
>
>



--
Sven R Larson
PhD; Assistant professor of economics
Department of Social Sciences, Bldg. 22.2
Roskilde University
Pb 260
DK-4000 Roskilde
Telephone: (+45) 4674 2910