i'm in seattle

no, not really.  i was in seattle. but that does not really follow the theme of the all-time great post I'm in Alaska.  i was there for the annual AcademyHealth meetings.  as has been noted before, the contrast with economics meetings is incredible.

1. one of my former colleagues grabbed a pile of homework from his principles class and said "i could present this at <a regional meeting>."  he was only mildly exaggerating.  at AH, the ratio of attendees to speakers is probably around 15 to 1.   speakers get a blue ribbon they can put on their name badge.  in addition to the prestige, it entitles them to tremendous privileges -- like a blue ribbon they can put on their name badge.
2. the registration fees are quite different. almost all economics registrations are less than $100, many are $25 or less.  for that fee, you get ice water. for the nearly 4 digit registration at AH, you get two lunches, dessert, breakfast, and a wide variety of beverages and snacks (including carrots, string cheese, and power bars).  oh yeah, we also got an umbrella -- the greater seattle visitors bureau must have loved that, which does wonders to dispel the widely held image of seattle, noah, and the ark.
3. economics meetings end around 5:00.  this allows attendees to go back to their room and begin massive consumption of alcohol.  the AH meetings ended around 7:00.  that means that us east coasters were eating dinner at about midnight our time. 
4. one thing that is the same: professional rent-seeking.  the most insufferable aspect of all these meetings is the (generally) inverse relationship between misplaced self-importance and humility. it's what gives academics a bad name.

finally, a note to plenary speakers: if you are presenting during lunch, even if you are discussing the avian flu, do NOT show slides of dead chickens. especially if the lunch is chicken.

Comments

[John Whitehead]

well done