Today I was searching for a paper reviewing an important, if not the most influential, Economic-climate model (DICE) and a search of the author took me to Wikipedia. Thinking this is a good place to start I consequently read the piece to find that this person, Duane Chapman, is a bounty hunter operating out of Hawaii, and not an influential energy economist (influential according to Cornell University). I was a bit miffed to find someone’s claim to pop culture was a TV show about bounty hunting.
Then again I should not be surprised. Having study a subject or two about economics I have come to realise demand is based on what people perceive to be valuable. Now energy economics is only interesting, hence demanded, by a small section of the population while bounty hunter insights would appeal to a rather large section of the population (presumptuous assumption relegated to the fine print). Hence the bounty hunter should be more famous than the economist.
Also, let us consider the role of advertising. I feel that its purpose is to create demand. How does it do this? I find it manipulates your perceptions. And how does it do this? Creates needs where there were none. I found I now have the desire to have a whole lot of things which I didn’t need or want a year ago. It has distorted my reality. I found an interesting case of distorted reality in this video. I will leave you with my current thoughts – what is beauty anyway?
1 comment:
When I was in America this summer I was addicted to that show. I guess he got put off the air for something he said though. I think any show with a bounty hunter is better than singing and dancing contests on any given day.
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