Comments on: What Kind Of Economist Is Phil Gramm?

By: John Emerson

John Emerson — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:45:41 +0000

The U. of Georgia econ dept, which gave Gramm his PhD, is not ranked by USN&WR, which means it ranks below #55.

By: pr

pr — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:49:54 +0000

I heartily agree that Phil Gramm’s contributions as an academic economist are quite minimal. That said, I also have serious doubts about James Galbraith’s work. I took a look at his record of academic output through Econ-Lit and could identify, at best, only 1 reasonable publication. Exactly why does he hold a prestigious chaired position?

By: Eli P.

Eli P. — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:48:29 +0000

Thanks Prof. for this inside info and explanation. I’d not want to be confused with a supporter of his economic agenda, but is there not some truth hiding in Gramm’s diagnosis of the psychological causes of recession? Of course he leaves out that the current atmosphere of global insecurity has been caused in large part by this administration’s volatile and unpredictable approach to foreign policy, including what it might do in the next few months, as well as the possibility of its continuation in another “manchurian” administration.

By: chris joseph

chris joseph — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:14:58 +0000

My guess is that the proper moment for that article would have come in the late 1940s, or some twenty years before Gramm actually wrote his dissertation.

And it would likely be difficult to prove he plagiarized any portion of it, even though his material seeming so dated hints in this direction.

By: blewoutmyflipflop

blewoutmyflipflop — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:19:30 +0000

Thanks, Prof. Galbraith. I'm looking forward to the publication of your new book. Is there any chance that it will be offered for the Kindle? Hint, hint.

This may account in part for Gramm’s migration out of academic economics and into politics, where an unapologetic life can be built around simple verities. But then again that may be giving the man too much credit.

Way too much credit. But then again we could say that I'm skeptical about any of Gramm's verities. :-)