Environmental Economics

When you're chewing on life's gristle, don't grumble, give a whistle

Find a halfway decent job and take it? Did I say that?

Appalachian State University graduates walked off the stage this weekend and into a world of uncertainty.

The recession may be over, but its aftermath leaves a lot to be desired for job-seekers, ASU economist John Whitehead said.

"The job market is not great right now," he said, and, while the job market does pick up post-recession, it's still not great news yet for grads.

"Economic growth will increase and people will start making money but employers don't start hiring right away," he said. "Graduates this semester are going to face some challenges."

He has some advice for those newly capped.

"Find a halfway decent job and take it," he said. "Get some work experience and keep your eyes open. Do the best you can. There's not much you can do about the economy. You just have to roll the dice and do the best you can."

Local elected officials have a more cheerful message for graduates.

"Pause and appreciate the blessing of living in this truly rare country we have that offers so much," state Sen. Dan Soucek said.

via www2.wataugademocrat.com

At the risk of facing the fiery flames of hell:

Here is more advice:

"While at times the challenges and changes of life may feel so overwhelming that you want to take a time out from it all, by having completed your degree, you've chosen to participate in the world and obligated yourself to working toward solutions to our most pressing problems and to creating a future that is better and stronger for those who follow behind you," Sen. Richard Burr said. "Carry on the legacy of those who have supported you in getting to this degree and this college by thinking big and by taking on the responsibility to find your way to solve the problems of today and to make this world a better place. Don't complain that the pace of change is too quick or that the global genie is out of the bottle. See it as an unlimited opportunity for success."

"My advice is straight-forward: work hard," U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx said. "Whether you are in the workplace or volunteering or even in the context of family, always work to go above and beyond what is expected of you."

Three of the 14 economics graduates who walked on Sunday have lined up jobs (that they were willing to share with me).

My summer conference abstract ...

... has been submitted for AERE 2011. Check it out below the fold (it's awesome). Let's hope that I can make it onto, at least, the poster session. I decided against submitting something for the 2011 NAAFE meeting. There is no way the state will fund a conference trip to Hawaii in this budget atmosphere (and the Whitehead Endowment won't cover it either). Rats.

Ha!

From the inbox:

Dear Colleague,

We invite you to take advantage of lower fees by registering early for the Fourth World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists.  The deadline for early registration is April 30, 2010.  

There is a substantial increase in the fees after that date.

To register, go to the WCERE 2010 web site at www.wcere2010.org.  You will also find on the web site a provisional program overview as well as useful information about the keynote speakers, accommodation, the venue, social activities, related events, etc.   

We look forward to welcoming you to Montreal.

The Local Organizing Committee

WCERE 2010

Shaping young minds

Last night, my kids saw the trailer for the apocalyptic movie 2012, a foretelling of the end of time based on interpretation of the Mayan calendar.  They freaked out a bit--especially after I told them it is true* and I know that because the predictions are based on the Haab calendar.  I even had them Google it. 

Anyway, it turns out that my kids aren't the only ones who believe it, and NASA has gone into full myth busting mode:

The world is not coming to an end on December 21, 2012, the US space agency insisted Monday in a rare campaign to dispel widespread rumors fuelled by the Internet and a new Hollywood movie...

And while comets and asteroids have always hit the Earth, "big hits are very rare," NASA noted. The last major impact was believed to be 65 million years ago, spurring the end of dinosaurs.

"We have already determined that there are no threatening asteroids as large as the one that killed the dinosaurs," the space agency said.  

Wait. What's with this asteroid theory?  I thought the dinosaurs talked back to their parents** so they were killed in the Great Flood. 

At least that's what I told my kids.

Economics and religion

I was sitting in church this past Sunday morning listening to the annual stewardship sermon "... and money is not just a medium of exchange..." and I'm thinking "... amen preacher, it's also a unit of account and a store of value."

(Blasphemous) Quote of the Day

A new source of existence value (God introduces new bird):

"Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve, prepare thine eyes for the most exciting line of avian wildlife in millennia," God announced as He released an estimated 14 million first-run models into the important bird markets of North America, Australia, and Eurasia. "This new bird has it all: slicker wings, a more streamlined beak, better-than-ever capacity for beautiful song. Plus, all of the grace and majesty you've come to expect from the Eternal Creator of Life Itself."

"The bird is back," God continued, His booming voice parting the very heavens. "And baby, it's never looked better."

...

"Get 'em while supplies last," God said. "Or before they're hunted to total extinction."

In order to avoid the tragedy of the commons and insure that the new bird is not driven to extinction as a result of open access allocation, I suggest we assign property rights immediately and create a free market for allocation (in spite of the namby-pamby liberal/socialist objections).*

*Note: I don't know where that all came from; but, I wrote it so I'll post it. No offense to you free market environmentalists.

They must have responded to the "web page design" spam

The American Economic Association updates their webpage (finally!):

http://www.aeaweb.org/index.php