The Humbug Production Function

The transcript discusses the speaker's early work on the humbug production function, influenced by Joan Robinson. It details the challenges faced in inviting Robinson to speak at Columbia University and the subsequent departmental resistance. The speaker's seminar paper, inspired by Robinson, faced publication challenges and suppression, highlighting the contentious nature of the work within the academic community.

What was the initial reaction of the department when the speaker invited Joan Robinson to speak?

• They offered to pay for her travel expenses.

• They were hesitant and initially refused.

• They immediately agreed to the invitation.

• They were supportive and excited.

How did Joan Robinson influence the speaker's academic work?

• She recommended they study at Cambridge.

• She suggested exploring the validity of production functions.

• She discouraged them from pursuing economics.

• She advised them to focus on teaching.

What was the outcome of the speaker's first seminar paper?

• It faced some blowback and was converted into a comment.

• It was immediately recognized as groundbreaking.

• It was published without any issues.

• It was widely accepted without controversy.

What happened to the speaker's work in the Palgrave publication?

• It was translated into multiple languages.

• It was removed in the next edition.

• It was celebrated and expanded in the next edition.

• It was ignored and never published.

What did the speaker demonstrate about the production function?

• It is a complex mathematical model.

• It is an accounting identity.

• It is irrelevant to modern economics.

• It is universally accepted in economics.