Cheap Talk is 3 years old today. It feels good. And I am very glad that you are reading.
I try to write three posts per week that are either original ideas or interpretations of research that involves a little original thinking. These usually come Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday in the morning. In the afternoon I post a link or a little thought for fun, nothing heavy. On Thursday I try to revisit a theme, like Thoughts Left Lying Around, or post some reaction to something on another blog. And then on Friday I post the Sordid Links.
When I look back at all of the little ideas I have posted here I am pretty proud. Take a look at the vapor mill tag. There are some real research ideas there, quite a few in fact. It’s amazing to think that without this blog that many ideas would have just gone to waste. (Assuming that blogging them is not a waste.) Makes me think that more people should write blogs.
There have been times when I wondered how long I am going to be able to keep this up. This is not a current events blog, I don’t usually get material from the news, just thoughts that happen at random times and places. Eventually I have to run out of those. But there’s no sign of that yet. I have a pretty safe stock of ideas written down that I flip through at night when I am sitting down to write. I had one just today.
One bummer over the past year is that Google crippled Google Reader and as a result there has been a noticeable sag in the number of rss views. We have over 3,000 subscribers through Google Reader but I think that a lot of people stopped using it after the downgrade. There’s something new called Google Currents for mobile devices. I set up Cheap Talk there but I don’t think many people are using that yet. It’s pretty nice though, you should check it out.
I have three papers now that are based on ideas that would not exist if it were not for the blog. That’s pretty cool.
13 comments
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February 2, 2012 at 12:45 am
Kevin
thanks for your work! it’s definitely one of the most original econ blogs, especially since it is more than an economic analysis of the news (which we can get from dozens of places)
February 2, 2012 at 9:57 am
Hannah Pavalow (@hpavalow)
Congratulations! I only started following you within the last year and you have quickly become one of my favourite blogs (econ or otherwise).
February 2, 2012 at 11:49 am
Russell
I appreciate the hard work and original thinking you put into Cheap Talk. Though I’m far from being an economist, this blog does a good job of making economics accessible (enjoyable even!) Thanks, and keep up the great work!
February 2, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Anonymous
Other than “Torture,” what are the other two papers?
February 3, 2012 at 9:16 am
jeff
The other two are still being developed but yes one is Overbooking. I will have to keep you in Suspense on the other one.
February 2, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Anonimus
I guess one is “overbooking” (with Garrett and Hinnousaur) and, probably, one about the seats’ assignment problem at “Next” restaurant in Chicago..
February 2, 2012 at 11:25 pm
dan s
happy bday 🙂
it does seem to be quite an effective commitment device for developing ideas (knowing that what you write (or dont write) will be seen by 1000s of others ..)
February 3, 2012 at 11:39 am
Ian E
I would like to add my thanks, this is a great place that makes me have some great thoughts. I hope you can keep it up. Your ideas are original and love the quirkiness of you blog.
February 4, 2012 at 3:53 am
waltzingmonkey
Seriously. Thank you for the blog. I am one of those who follow you daily on Reader.
February 6, 2012 at 9:58 am
jeff
thanks to everyone
February 4, 2012 at 10:40 am
brian
are you a phish fan, jeff?
February 6, 2012 at 9:58 am
jeff
let’s say i admire them from afar. i have not been to a show.
February 6, 2012 at 10:43 pm
brian
youtube makes being an armchair fan better than ever. some old school clips worth a watch when you have, oh you know 30 or 40 minutes to kill to listen a song, are:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN21c14YdY0&feature=related (sound only)