I describe myself as an economic enthusiast and an Austrian. I will be returning to a University of Wisconsin school for an undergraduate degree in Economics. They offer a Quantitative Concentration, a General Economics Major, and a Monetary and Financial Economics Concentration. http://www.uwp.edu/catalog/pdfs/ECON.pdf Which do you think would be best for a budding Austrian? Before you say none, consider I want to be firmly grounded with the knowledge of mainstream economics to better refute it later on down the road. I'm hung up between a Quantitative or a Monetary major.
Suggestions?
Why can't you just read everything? Their textbooks, their theorists, their journals? You don't need the state's permission or guidance to learn.
Anthony: Which do you think would be best for a budding Austrian?
What's your long-term goal, career wise?
I have a strong background in Supply Chain and in Manufacturing as both management and an hourly worker. It would probably be smart to build on those but I'm not adverse to a complete career change.
I'd like to run a brokerage firm eventually (I'm also about to start the process of studying for the Series 7 while I attend school) but I would have to secure employment beforehand, hopefully with a lucrative salary.
I have read quite a bit but I'm also seeking credentials for employment.
Jonathan M. F. Catalán:What's your long-term goal, career wise?
This. Basically everything depends on whether or not you want to go to grad school.
AnalyticalAnarchism.net - The Positive Political Economy of Anarchism
Anthony: I have read quite a bit but I'm also seeking credentials for employment.
The days of credentialed employment are coming to an end. We're moving into a new economy where what you know is more important than what papers you have. If Peter Schiff still does his Wednesday radio shows, you should call in and ask a brokerage professional exactly what sort of qualifications you need to get into that field. Someone in the business will give you a much better idea of what they look for and expect.
There may be other investment gurus (don't mess around with any small timers) who can give you some insight. In fact, if you write Lew Rockwell a very short, very polite request, I am sure he could point you to someone who could offer some guidance. Doug Casey also comes to mind. Gary North as well.
Remember, professors and colleges want to get your tuition, they really don't give a damn how successful you are when you leave school. A working professional on the other hand has insight that professors cannot hope to rival because they never actually compete in the arena.
liberty student: Anthony: I have read quite a bit but I'm also seeking credentials for employment. The days of credentialed employment are coming to an end. We're moving into a new economy where what you know is more important than what papers you have. If Peter Schiff still does his Wednesday radio shows, you should call in and ask a brokerage professional exactly what sort of qualifications you need to get into that field. Someone in the business will give you a much better idea of what they look for and expect. There may be other investment gurus (don't mess around with any small timers) who can give you some insight. In fact, if you write Lew Rockwell a very short, very polite request, I am sure he could point you to someone who could offer some guidance. Doug Casey also comes to mind. Gary North as well. Remember, professors and colleges want to get your tuition, they really don't give a damn how successful you are when you leave school. A working professional on the other hand has insight that professors cannot hope to rival because they never actually compete in the arena.
I'm going to endorse this as well. I'm spending two years in grad school and feeling that working different jobs would have been a much better option. If I wasn't half done I'd be doing internships and projects and the like.
liberty student:There may be other investment gurus (don't mess around with any small timers) who can give you some insight. In fact, if you write Lew Rockwell a very short, very polite request, I am sure he could point you to someone who could offer some guidance. Doug Casey also comes to mind. Gary North as well.
Marc Faber as well. It is my understanding that he also replies to emails from his followers, in addition to his clients.
To paraphrase Marc Faber: We're all doomed, but that doesn't mean that we can't make money in the process. Rabbi Lapin: "Let's make bricks!" Stephan Kinsella: "Say you and I both want to make a German chocolate cake."
liberty student: We're moving into a new economy where what you know is more important than what papers you have.
We're moving into a new economy where what you know is more important than what papers you have.
I would add that it's essential to be able utilize knowledge as well. After all, what is a great idea for a business without successful execution?
Capital Pumper:I would add that it's essential to be able utilize knowledge as well. After all, what is a great idea for a business without successful execution?
Right, experience and relationships really trump all in the working world. Relationships in particular are super important.
You could always say to hell with The Darkside and apply to Carthage. Yuri Maltsev teaches there.
Most well paying employers want a Bachelors degree for people to change toilet paper rolls. Without it, you're cleaning toilets. That's due to the wanton proliferation of 4 year degrees of course and the horrible quality of education for most high school grads. A college degree is great to up the starting salary too. I would have started in a marketing firm this month as their Director of Project Management or Project Management Manager :), having landed the position in August, but the position was contingent on the firm's expansion. With the current credit market and lack of venture capital they're not expanding. That leaves me jobless. No bites on anything else in my neck of the woods.
Even though I have years of experience in production management and the supply chain (minus a college degree) the job market has changed and I'm in the market at age 42. Luckily I own my home free and clear, car's paid off, and have no loans. I do have evil property taxes and utilities of course. It might be a great time for me to finish my degree to earn a decent salary.
I do like the suggestions above about writing Peter Schiff or Marc Faber. I think I'll try that, thanks!
That's a great idea but I have to attend a UW school to take advantage of Wisconsin's state GI Bill.
Anthony: That's a great idea but I have to attend a UW school to take advantage of Wisconsin's state GI Bill.
Ugh. Darn gov. Sorry.
IMO, which could be horribly wrong from a career perspective, I don't think an economics major in mainstream economics is even the best way to shoot it down. In fact using their methods it's probably not even possible to discredit their thinking, at least not decisively. The Mises/Austrian approach would be to use logic, reasoning, talk about 'human action', and so on. That type of attack on phony economists also resonates much, much better with the masses because it's easier to understand and it makes much more sense than some ridiculous formulas or equations some idiot dreamed up which only apply to past history...
Someone here once recommended becoming a revisionist historian as an alternative, or something more practical than academic similar to what Peter Schiff makes a living doing. (Well, maybe not so much if he wins the senate election, but you get the idea.)