Fish Out of Water

From: J
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2018 11:00 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Economics Paper Submission

Professor Block,

I am an economics student at the University of XYZ (a program notorious for its emphasis on formalism and modeling). As might be expected, I have had significant difficulty connecting with faculty, none of whom seem to have any idea what I am talking about if I use words instead of numbers. I have started an Austrian economics organization (aptly called the “Mises Seminar”), but that is no replacement for faculty support.

Currently, I am working on a paper that I would like to submit for publication within the next couple of months. It centers around the sociological implications of the lack of a capital market in a socialist system. The basic thesis is that conflict between the central planner and everyone else is inevitable in such a system, thereby refuting the claim that the social harmony of a socialist system would outweigh the negative economic aspects. Thus, if taken in tandem, the arguments of Mises and Hayek condemn not only the economics of the system, but its social aspects as well.

I suppose the main problem is that I would like someone to help me a) write a good paper (i.e., review/comment on it) and b) help me through the submissions process because it’s my first time. Such a person is unavailable to me at my school for obvious reasons. As a result, I was hoping that you might be able to help me, or could at least recommend someone to me. Seeing as I hope to pursue graduate economics work, it is important to me that this goes well and I develop some connections. I would likely submit to either the QJAE, Libertarian Papers, or initially present at the Austrian Student Scholars Conference and proceed to submit to the QJ or LP afterward.

I have been a great admirer of yours for some time (although that probably goes without saying). As any good libertarian ought to, I have read Defending the Undefendable and found myself, well, defending what you made defensible. In particular, however, I have been influenced by your theory of animal rights and stimulated by evictionism, even if I can’t bring myself to completely agree with it. I have also drawn great inspiration from your Mises Institute lectures on praxeology and economics. If anyone has a claim to be Murray Rothbard’s heir as master of free market economics and libertarian theory, it is you–and that’s partially why I am reaching out to you in particular.

Of course, there’s no obligation to do anything, much less respond (we’re all libertarians here!), but I thought I would reach out to you given how much I have heard of your support of students in the past. Even though I will not be done with a first draft for quite some time, I thought I ought to reach out to you early in the process.

Respectfully, J, XYZ University

From: Walter Block [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2018 11:14 AM
To: J
Subject: RE: Economics Paper Submission

Dear J:

I assume you major in econ. In what year are you? Might you be interested in transferring to Loyola? Yes, whether you transfer here or not, I’ll help you with your paper. I co author a lot of papers with students. Might you be interested in doing that? It’s not necessary. I’ll still help you even if you’re not interested in a co authorship. Just send me a first draft of your paper.

Here’s some info on transferring to Loyola:

Block, Walter E. 2017. “C’mon Down To New Orleans; The Water’s Fine. Enroll at Loyola University.” June 27;

C’mon Down To New Orleans; The Water’s Fine. Enroll at Loyola University

Loyola Economics Students Published Widely in Refereed Journals; http://www.loyno.edu/news/story/2017/7/17/3962

Block, Walter. 2017. “The Best Place to Study Undergraduate Economics.” June 30; http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2017/06/the-best-place-to-study-undergraduate.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economicpolicyjournal%2FKpwH+%28EconomicPolicyJournal.com%29

Wenzel, Robert. 2017. Interview with Walter E. Block. “The Inside Scoop on Studying Economics at Loyola University-New Orleans” September 3;
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2017/09/the-inside-scoop-on-studying-economics.html
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2017/09/the-inside-scoop-on-studying-economics.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economicpolicyjournal%2FKpwH+%28EconomicPolicyJournal.com%29

Block, Walter E. 2008. “Attention Students: Should You Get Your Ph.D. and Become a Professor?” June 28; http://archive.lewrockwell.com/block/block104.html (debate with Gary North) https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/young-person-saved-from-academia/;
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2018/04/loyola-professor-attacks-austrian.html

Top Ten Contemporary Academics Helping The Political Right (#8)
http://www.poletical.com/academics-helping-the-right.php

100 Most Influential Libertarians: A Newsmax/FreedomFest List (#46)
http://www.newsmax.com/BestLists/libertarians-newsmax-freedomfest/2017/06/01/id/793510/

Best regards,

Walter

Walter E. Block, Ph.D.
Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics
Loyola University New Orleans
6363 St. Charles Avenue, Box 15, Miller Hall 318
New Orleans, LA 70118
[email protected]
Skype: Walter.Block4
tel: (504) 864-7934

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2:58 pm on August 28, 2018