Alex Tabarrok
Alex Tabarrok
Economist, Author, and Blogger
Full Name and Common Aliases
Alex Tabarrok is an American economist, author, and blogger. He is also the co-author of the popular economics blog, Marginal Revolution.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on June 9, 1963 (no death date available)
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: American
Profession: Economist, Author, Blogger
Early Life and Background
Alex Tabarrok was born in 1963 to a family of modest means. His early life experiences and upbringing would later influence his perspectives on economics and social issues. Growing up, Tabarrok developed an interest in history and philosophy, which would eventually shape his academic pursuits.
Tabarrok earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and later pursued graduate studies at the University of Virginia and George Mason University. His educational background provided a solid foundation for his future work in economics.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout his career, Tabarrok has made significant contributions to various fields, including economics, politics, and social issues. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
Research and Teaching: As an economist, Tabarrok has conducted extensive research on topics such as economic development, globalization, and the impact of technology on society. He has also taught at several institutions, including George Mason University.
Authorship: Tabarrok has co-authored several books with Tyler Cowen, a fellow economist. Their works often explore the intersection of economics and social issues.
Blogging: As one of the founders of Marginal Revolution, Tabarrok has established himself as a prominent voice in the economics blogging community.Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works and actions by Alex Tabarrok include:
Books: Co-authored books such as "Human Diversity: The Biology at the Core of Our Differences" and "More Than You Wanted to Know: Stories of Privacy and Information Control"
Blogging: Regular contributions to Marginal Revolution, covering topics from economics and politics to social issues and culture
Public Engagement: Engaging with policymakers, academics, and the general public through lectures, interviews, and online discussions
Impact and Legacy
Alex Tabarrok's work has had a significant impact on various fields. His research and writings have influenced policy debates, academic discourse, and public understanding of complex issues.
Tabarrok's legacy extends beyond his individual accomplishments. As a prominent voice in the economics blogging community, he has helped democratize access to knowledge and spark meaningful discussions about pressing issues.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Alex Tabarrok is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
Influence: His work has shaped policy debates and academic discourse on various topics.
Accessibility: Through blogging and public engagement, Tabarrok has made complex ideas more accessible to a broad audience.
* Originality: He has tackled unconventional topics and challenged conventional wisdom in economics and social sciences.
Overall, Alex Tabarrok is an accomplished economist, author, and blogger who has made significant contributions to various fields. His work continues to inspire and inform discussions about pressing issues, cementing his legacy as a prominent voice in the world of economics and beyond.
Quotes by Alex Tabarrok
Michael Moore didn’t have to worry that anyone would misinterpret the title of his film, ‘Capitalism: A Love Story,’ because in Hollywood, no one loves capitalism. That’s too bad, because Hollywood is one of capitalism’s greatest successes.
Capitalists work hard to produce what consumers want. Artists who work too hard to produce what consumers want are often accused of selling out. Thus, even the languages of capitalism and art conflict: a firm that has ‘sold out’ has succeeded, but an artist that has ‘sold out’ has failed.
Hollywood wants its heroes to be virtuous, but it defines virtue in a way that excludes any action that is self-interested. If virtue means putting others ahead of self, then it’s clear that most people, let alone most capitalists, aren’t very virtuous.
I encourage everyone I know to sign an organ donor card, but if someone doesn’t want to sign, that’s his or her choice. If someone isn’t willing to give an organ, however, why should that person be allowed to receive an organ?
Like many works of literature, Hollywood chooses for its villains people who strive for social dominance through the pursuit of wealth, prestige, and power. But the ordinary business of capitalism is much more egalitarian: It’s about finding meaning and enjoyment in work and production.
The first thing you learn when you’re blogging is that people are one click away from leaving you. So you’ve got to get to the point, you can’t waste people’s time, you’ve got to give them some value for their limited attention span.
College has been oversold. It has been oversold to students who end up dropping out or graduating with degrees that don’t help them very much in the job market. It also has been oversold to the taxpayers, who foot the bill for subsidies that do nothing to encourage innovation and economic growth.
More retirees, longer life expectancy, larger benefits, and fewer workers – these trends have meant substantial increases in the payroll tax. Since the social security program began, the payroll tax has increased more than 500 percent.
Writing on the blog, you want to get attention and make strong claims. In academic work, that often doesn’t pay, so sometimes it’s a little bit difficult going back and forth to navigate these differences.
Our obsessive focus on college schooling has blinded us to basic truths. College is a place, not a magic formula. It matters what subjects students study, and subsidies should focus on the subjects that matter the most – not to the students, but to everyone else.