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Assorted links
1. H5N1 update, per reader request; there is more here.
2. Me on fiscal stimulus on NPR.
3. What is the 11th best job?
4. Can you use hypocrisy to change people's behavior?
Posted by Tyler Cowen on January 6, 2009 at 09:21 AM in Web/Tech | Permalink
Comments
There is something phishy about a list that puts "software engineer" and "computer systems analyst" at place 4 and 5, but "computer programmer" at 18. I am quite sure that "better paid lumberjack" is also a better job than "lumber jack".
Posted by: Zamfir at Jan 6, 2009 10:20:34 AM
Recovery will come only when we discover which new and valuable things the economy should produce as it shifts out of real estate and finance.
Sounds rather Austrian!
Posted by: mk at Jan 6, 2009 10:28:00 AM
How is it that "crack whore" didn't make the bottom 20? (pace Norm Macdonald.)
Posted by: Ted at Jan 6, 2009 10:33:48 AM
"President" is neither in the top nor the bottom 20? Hmm...
Posted by: US at Jan 6, 2009 10:43:26 AM
Accounting as number 10? I'm an accountant, it's not really that awesome. And why is butcher so low on the list? I could see that being enjoyable.
Posted by: BD at Jan 6, 2009 11:08:26 AM
The incomes mentioned in that WSJ article are ridiculous. People don't make that much money.
Posted by: Dirk at Jan 6, 2009 11:14:57 AM
Surprise surprise. "Mathematician," "Actuary," and "Statistician" at the top of a statistical ranking of careers put together by, I'm gonna wager, statisticians.
Posted by: Nick at Jan 6, 2009 11:24:45 AM
a friend of mine was trying to quit smoking. he penalized himself with the potential of hypocrisy: he promised himself that if he failed to stop smoking he would do 12 hours of volunteer work for the republican party.
Posted by: babar at Jan 6, 2009 11:30:13 AM
That list is so silly! I'm still in college and will probably be in one of those "top 20 jobs," but I think there's something appealing about working with your hands or being outdoors. Why is it necessarily a negative?
Posted by: at Jan 6, 2009 11:31:17 AM
I'm highly skeptical that job#14 (parole officer) should rank so highly. On the other hand, I've always thought it would be interesting to be a taxi driver (198), although I imagine most taxi drivers don't earn that much. But maybe if I win the lottery I'll take it up.
Posted by: Thelonious_Nick at Jan 6, 2009 12:03:35 PM
The article on hypocrisy is a nice example of a cultural bias in the media. I'm sure the Catholic Church was shocked, shocked, shocked! by this discovery.
Posted by: 8 at Jan 6, 2009 12:11:09 PM
Your NPR comments on "fiscal stimulua" were great! But you seem to want the Federal Government to prop up state and local governments so they can continue business as usual. Perhaps these smaller units of government, like certain sectors of the non-governmental economy, need to contract.
Posted by: Philo at Jan 6, 2009 12:29:42 PM
Your NPR comments on "fiscal stimulua" were great! But you seem to want the Federal Government to prop up state and local governments so they can continue business as usual. Perhaps these smaller units of government, like certain sectors of the non-governmental economy, need to contract.
Posted by: Philo at Jan 6, 2009 12:30:44 PM
Heh, I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok!
Posted by: Jack at Jan 6, 2009 12:44:14 PM
I am an economist, but I wish I was a lumberjack.
Posted by: Lucas at Jan 6, 2009 12:55:25 PM
The average pay for some of the jobs (the academic ones) is misleading since it can be difficult to get them.
Posted by: Andy at Jan 6, 2009 1:34:16 PM
That site should be called JobsRatedForPussies.com. Some people actually like physical work, competition, risk, etc. Full disclosure: I'm a physicist (and former volunteer firefighter, I might add). I guess economist beat us out because, as a physicist, there is actually a measure of being right or wrong ;)
Posted by: efp at Jan 6, 2009 1:54:33 PM
The best/worst list is pretty useless, being entirely subjective on what factors are favorable or unfavorable. Basically, a bias towards people who want to sit on their ass all day and take zero risk whatsoever. A better list could be made by asking a ten year-old what she wants to do when she grows up. I'll bet you'll get a lot more 'firefighter!' responses than 'uh, an actuary'?
Posted by: Howl at Jan 6, 2009 1:57:12 PM
The issue of using hypocrisy as a motivator was introduced to me back, I think, Sophmore yera in college in the book, "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" by Robert Cialdini
http://www.amazon.com/Influence-Psychology-Persuasion-Robert-Cialdini/dp/0688128165
I must-read for anyone who wants to succeed in this world, imho.
Posted by: Anal_yst at Jan 6, 2009 2:34:16 PM
Hold on, cowboys.
How about concentrating on the top spot? Why so humble about the 11th place? Why not go for the top?
Full disclosure: Obviously I made at least one good decision in my life!
;-)
Posted by: richard at Jan 6, 2009 2:57:24 PM
I use hypocrisy, but other people shouldn't.
Posted by: ookoo at Jan 6, 2009 3:11:37 PM
The best/worst list is pretty useless, being entirely subjective on what factors are favorable or unfavorable. Basically, a bias towards people who want to sit on their ass all day and take zero risk whatsoever. A better list could be made by asking a ten year-old what she wants to do when she grows up. I'll bet you'll get a lot more 'firefighter!' responses than 'uh, an actuary'?
Posted by: Howl at Jan 6, 2009 3:12:07 PM
Ted--I believe that "assistant crack whore" got the bottom spot the subsequent year...
As a biologist (#4) who is currently not very happy with his job, I've got to say I would find this massively depressing if I took it seriously...
Posted by: B at Jan 6, 2009 3:24:59 PM
Ted--I believe that "assistant crack whore" got the bottom spot the subsequent year...
As a biologist (#4) who is currently not very happy with his job, I've got to say I would find this massively depressing if I took it seriously...
Posted by: B at Jan 6, 2009 3:26:52 PM
The Federal government shouldn't just sit still. It's important to help state and local governments preserve their current budgeting and that task will prove hard enough. We're all hoping for an economic revival, but the bitter reality is that we will be very lucky simply to hold even and prevent further declines.
I guess you had to throw in some lines encouraging the thieves who steal our tax dollars or they wouldn't let you on NPR. You don't really believe that line do you?
You really think we will be lucky if we don't have declines in state and local spending?... We will be lucky if they cut out the unneccesary spending and we see government budgets SHRINK relative to the GDP...Good job ignoring the trillions wasted on fighting boogeymen around the world as well...I'm sure you NYT, NPR gigs are safe as long as you root for Halliburton, Bechtel and nice fat governemnt budgets....GE might be interested in putting you on air if you keep this up.
Posted by: Gabe at Jan 6, 2009 3:33:39 PM
