As a graduate of GMU econ, I can see why Prof. Cowen would say this. A large number of the master's students were federal employees getting their schooling paid for by Uncle Sam. By encouraging them to go for the PhD, Cowen increases demand for the PhD program that he teaches in among price insensitive buyers. Who knows how many started the program under Cowen's recommendation and didn't finish. No skin off of Tyler's back. But for every diamond in the rough, there is a big payoff for him. So why not encourage more people to pursue the PhD?
As you write, this IS one of the most important things we can do for others, particularly people with gifts that they themselves do not fully recognize.
I read that Tyler Cowen post when it first came out. And listened to that podcast with Paul Graham. And read your work on this at various times. I have attempted to internalize this.
And I've seen the power of it.
In my own experience, it has been easier to do this with friends or mentees than with my own children. Maybe I'm doing it wrong in my own house.
I'm experiencing this now in real time. I recently began a graduate study in applied physics, and my advisor has been pushing me to attend conferences and submit abstracts very early, before I would consider myself ready. Because of this, I'll be presenting at a major conference in March. I resonate a lot with what you've written about midwestern, evangelical culture creating low ambition people because I see a lot of myself there. Without my advisor pushing me forward, a lot of this would not have happened.
As a graduate of GMU econ, I can see why Prof. Cowen would say this. A large number of the master's students were federal employees getting their schooling paid for by Uncle Sam. By encouraging them to go for the PhD, Cowen increases demand for the PhD program that he teaches in among price insensitive buyers. Who knows how many started the program under Cowen's recommendation and didn't finish. No skin off of Tyler's back. But for every diamond in the rough, there is a big payoff for him. So why not encourage more people to pursue the PhD?
As you write, this IS one of the most important things we can do for others, particularly people with gifts that they themselves do not fully recognize.
I read that Tyler Cowen post when it first came out. And listened to that podcast with Paul Graham. And read your work on this at various times. I have attempted to internalize this.
And I've seen the power of it.
In my own experience, it has been easier to do this with friends or mentees than with my own children. Maybe I'm doing it wrong in my own house.
But amen amen amen.
I'm experiencing this now in real time. I recently began a graduate study in applied physics, and my advisor has been pushing me to attend conferences and submit abstracts very early, before I would consider myself ready. Because of this, I'll be presenting at a major conference in March. I resonate a lot with what you've written about midwestern, evangelical culture creating low ambition people because I see a lot of myself there. Without my advisor pushing me forward, a lot of this would not have happened.