Economics and Mr Spock

In my own small tribute to Leonard Nimoy, it seems appropriate to recall a 1997 article I wrote in The Independent pointing to Mr Spock, along with Hercule Poirot, as the ideal rational economic man. Economists seem particularly keen on the two genres of science fiction and detective fiction I argue there, and both Noah Smith and I have revisited that theme.

Live long and prosper!

Live long and prosper!

For all who don’t know it, [amazon_link id=”074562491X” target=”_blank” ]Star Trek: The Human Frontier[/amazon_link] by Michele and Duncan Barrett is a fabulous exploration of why the series and films say so much about humanity and western culture.

[amazon_image id=”074562491X” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Star Trek: The Human Frontier[/amazon_image]

3 thoughts on “Economics and Mr Spock

  1. Pingback: Economics and Mr Spock | Homines Economici

  2. Economists seem particularly keen on the two genres of science fiction and detective fiction

    Mysteries and science fiction are the two most popular genres in general, so that doesn’t make economists any different. The only genre that compares is romance, whose unpopularity with economists can be easily explained by the fact that most of them are male.

    • Good point about the counterfactual. I think it’s economics-ness rather than female-ness that accounts for the lack of interest in romantic fiction. Although The Invisible Heart by Russ Roberts is an exception…

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