6 From Beatnik to Business Major Taking Econ 101 For Kicks
After two years of wandering around in different economic locales, trying to look at various societies from an economic point of view, and generally poking my nose into other people’s business, I thought I should make another attempt to answer the question, “What am I talking about?” I went back to the books about economic theory and the college Econ texts, and even Samuelson’s dreadful Economics. And this time I was . . . still bored, I’m afraid. And I was still overwhelmed. But the tedium had become more interesting, if that makes sense. And my incomprehension was better informed. Reading about economics after watching a lot of economic activity is like reading the assembly instructions after the Christmas toy has been put together. Certain significant patterns begin to take shape in the mind—even though the instructions are still gobbledygook and the toy doesn’t work. I make no claim to understand economics. But I have begun to understand how economics is understood. This is how economics is understood after two semesters at most colleges: I. There are a lot of graphs. II. I’d better memorize them. III. Or get last year’s test. And this is how economics is understood after three drinks at most bars: I. There are only so many things in the world, and somebody is taking my share. II. All payment for work is underpayment. III. All business is crime. A. Retailers are thieves.
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