tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817171247555815363.post2123793015848258630..comments2024-03-26T05:57:44.937+00:00Comments on True Economics: Economics 29/01/2010: News from the Knowledge Economy FrontTrueEconomicshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350536454228478974noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817171247555815363.post-85923936204652543412010-02-01T14:05:52.986+00:002010-02-01T14:05:52.986+00:00>>> our Brussels-based Irish language tra...>>> our Brussels-based Irish language translators are costing us some 5 times the amount it would take to restore our library services back to the 21st century standard <<<<br /><br />What is your source for this claim?Frans Engelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817171247555815363.post-38131965887359618722010-01-31T10:01:51.475+00:002010-01-31T10:01:51.475+00:00Of course, the counter argument here will be that ...Of course, the counter argument here will be that knowledge, science and education provide very strong positive spillovers to the society at large. And that the savings generated are negligible and can be achieved by, for example, cutting the burden of our education system bureaucracy. In addition, the cost can be fully recovered through student fees. <br /><br />Education and science in Ireland are not efficiently run. In one instance, TCD admin insisted on putting a senior administrator in a research centre funded from outside the Irish state at a cost of over 100K. The centre was supposed to have one lecturer, two post-docs and a few doctoral students and occupy two rooms!<br /><br />There are huge inefficiencies in the administrative / management functions. There are also big problems with legacy academic staff who perform no real functions - neither active in research, nor active in teaching.<br /><br />The Government has committed 10 million annually to support an under-performing IT for no reason other than maintaining political coalition.<br /><br />The list can go on and on. So while we can be accused of NIMBYism, there are plenty of arguments to refute such an accusation.TrueEconomicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07350536454228478974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817171247555815363.post-27109266067684201982010-01-31T01:39:28.450+00:002010-01-31T01:39:28.450+00:00Apparently, the "top journals" are not s...Apparently, the "top journals" are not so top anymore i.e. the good stuff is more evenly spread around.I read that recently anyway.<br />The problem is that any objection to any spending cuts will be seen as a kind of NIMBY-ismKevin Dennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17891633553910348880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817171247555815363.post-64490832162573926002010-01-31T00:57:53.740+00:002010-01-31T00:57:53.740+00:00Many are, as far as I can see. Some probably are r...Many are, as far as I can see. Some probably are rather obscure, but the reality is that knowledge is not subject to prioritization - even obscure texts often become extremely influential. There was a very good article ages ago that listed some of the top papers in economics - including those that later formed the core of the Nobel Prize award - that were published in second tier journals because they were rejected by the top journals. In reality - I stood clearly for serious cuts in public spending. And I still stand for more. But one has to think when cuts are implemented. Clearly, this Government and our public sector officials are failing in the task.TrueEconomicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07350536454228478974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817171247555815363.post-31889961531929923792010-01-31T00:15:54.598+00:002010-01-31T00:15:54.598+00:00Lest there be any doubt, these are not obscure jou...Lest there be any doubt, these are not obscure journals. They would be essential in their areas.Kevin Dennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17891633553910348880noreply@blogger.com