A Different Sort of Competition Among Austrian Economists

|Peter Boettke|

As Richard Ebeling has pointed out on numerous occasions, there has always been fierce competition among different members of the Austrian School of Economics --- scientific ambition, personal intrigue, and bitter rivalry has been common since the days in Vienna.

I want to point out another competition --- even among those who were trained at GMU; though a generation apart.  We now have a potential rumble brewing over musical talents of two great teachers of economics -- David Prychitko and Dan Smith.  Given that Dan is now working alongside of Dave's greatest student --- Scott Beaulier --- I am sure they can have a guitar dual down in Alabama shortly.  In the meantime, please rate their performances.  I am biased and vote for the older wiser generation --- the Austro-punk has grown up to be the Ottlakerambler.

 

Or

Of course the greatest musical accomplishment of GMU Austrians would have to go to the duo of Roy Cordato and Karen Palasek, who were both classically trained and professional musicians prior to becoming PhD economist and Roy is the author of the finest rap song ever --- The Market Process Shuffle. If anyone has a recording of Cordato's brilliant performance from the 1980s, then please do share.

Horwitz is disqualified from judging given his taste in music, and D'Amico is highly suspect as well -- plus all the time they spend on the Judge means they don't have time to judge anything anymore.

 

Comments

[Jessica]

I vote for Daniel!!! :)

[Richard Ebeling]

As you know, Pete, I serenade by students in class with song. So I think we should have an Austrian A Capella competition, as well, don't you think?

Richard Ebeling

[Lawrence H. White]

I vote for Ivan Pongracic, Jr., the Tsar of the Surf Guitar, who has sold thousands of CDs with his bands The Space Cossacks and nowadays The Madeira, and has played paying gigs from California to the Caribbean to Europe. Props to Dave and Daniel, but really, it's no contest. The market has spoken!

[Mario]

Someone should tell Dan Smith that he is soloing in the wrong key, the song is in D, not G!

[Steve Horwitz]

What Larry said. Not even a contest.

[Ivan Pongracic, Jr.]

Thanks very much for the vote, Larry and Steve! Greatly appreciate it.

For those unaware of my musical activities, here are two professionally shot videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFnyaCPyJSk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiNjzIBLwSE

Hope you enjoy 'em!

(Great to see Dave and Dan playing, too!!)

Ivan Pongracic, Jr.
William E. Hibbs/Ludwig von Mises Professor of Economics
Hillsdale College

[K Sralla]

Oh how far the musical culture of Austrian economics has fallen since the days of Vienna. Today I spent the day walking around the staatsoper and karlskirche listening to Mozart and Strauss.