Photo: Editor BA few weeks back, I upset many people when I posed the question “How are prostitutes and rice alike?” You’ll have to read that old post to understand why I would ask that particular question.
I was accused by those posting comments of being insensitive, misogynistic, and worse. The people criticizing me probably do not have a sense of humor, but just in case they do, here is the latest contest. Whoever comes up with the most creative answer (as judged by me and my crack team at the Becker Center) to the following question wins Freakonomics schwag:
What do economists have in common with garbage?
I know it is a horrible, unforgivable thing to objectify any human being (even an economist) by comparing him or her to an inanimate object. And to compare economists to garbage, well that obviously means that I think all economists are garbage, including myself. I’m sure that tears will be in the eyes of all of my colleagues when they hear how I have demeaned them with this insensitive comparison.
So let’s get the fun started.
and 
. You can also watch it on 
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
Based on their constant arguing and what can only be described as “rational economist” point of view, they too should be put out on the curb no less than twice a week.
(from a fellow economist!)
1. The both belong in the trash because they are useless.
2. They were useful at one time, but now serve no great purpose.
3. Neither can feed a family of 4.
There’s always some amount of begging involved with taking them out.
A lot of the garbage we produce could perform a useful function, if only we paid attention to it. Likewise with economists.
(There… how’s that for sucking up?)
Economists have created a system that leverages the most easy-to-use data and ignores (throws away) the rest. Garbage is a product of a system where consumers leverage the most easy-to-use component of a purchased item and then throw away the packaging.
Both economists and garbage give insights into the past and tackle/reveal issues related to consumption, wealth allocation, and behaviours/tastes (among others).
Commenter #4 wins! Stop the contest!