Lessons from the laureates

Arbeitspapier

This paper uses as source material twenty-three autobiographical essays by Nobel economists presented since 1984 at Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas) and published in Lives of the Laureates (MIT Press). A goal of the lecture series is to enhance understanding of the link between biography and the development of modern economic thought. We explore this link and identify common themes in the essays, relying heavily on the words of the laureates. Common themes include the importance of real-world events coupled with a desire for rigor and relevance, the critical influence of teachers, the necessity of scholarly interaction, and the role of luck or happenstance. Most of the laureates view their research program not as one planned in advance but one that evolved via the marketplace for ideas.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 3956

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft
• Subject: Nobel economists ; economic thought ; autobiography ; Wirtschaftswissenschaftler ; Nobelpreis ; Dogmengeschichte ; Lebensverlauf ; USA ; Welt

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Breit, William ; Hirsch, Barry T.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2009

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/35380
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-20090209262
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET