Economics
How many economists does it take to draw a demand curve?
10
1 to draw the line and 9 to hold everything else constant.
Making predictions about the future is easy.
It’s trying to figure out what’s going on now that‘s driving me crazy
paraphrase of Fritz Dressler
Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The purpose of studying Economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists.
Joan Robinson
In a closely interdependent economy, effects can precede causes.
Paul Samuelson
Monopoly is never having to say you’re sorry.
Another difference between Milton and myself is that everything reminds Milton of the money supply. Well, everything reminds me of sex, but I try to keep it out of the paper.
Robert Solow speaking of Milton Friedman
It is perhaps significant that economists call a statistical analysis a regression.
Preston McAfee
Based on figures that I’m making up as I go along…
S. J. Perlman
There are only three basic forecasting methods: magic, hope, and mathematics. All three generate similar forecasts which are basically wrong. Some are more wrong than others, but only mathematical based forecasts are suited to computerization. That doesn’t make them any better than forecasts produced in other ways, only more defensible.
Jack McGrath
Prediction is a very difficult art, especially when it involves the future.
An economist is someone who guesses wrong about the economy. An econometrician is someone who uses a computer to guess wrong about the economy.
Kennedy
Econometrics is the art of drawing a crooked line from an unproved assumption to a foregone conclusion.
The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.
John Kenneth Galbraith
A philosopher is someone looking for a black cat in a dark room.
A metaphysician is someone looking for a black cat in a dark room and the cat’s not there.
An econometrician is someone looking for a black cat in a dark room, the cat’s not there, and they cry, “I’ve got it.”
John Scarry
And those are the conclusions upon which I based my facts.
Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.
Stewart Brand
I figure the point of earning a decent living isn’t to buy expensive toys but instead to be able to pay someone to do all the crap you hate to do.
Nick Bradbury
A credit card is something you use when you don’t have enough money to buy something and you want to pay more for it.
NotAlwaysRight.com
The misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all.
Joan Robinson
We all too often have socialism for the rich and rugged free market capitalism for the poor.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life.
Terry Pratchett