somehow, I received the following e-mail: From: Bruce Lincoln <[email protected]> Date: June 18, 2011 9:41:56 AM CDT Subject: [cores-ucfaculty] Friday News Dump: End of the MFI
Dear Friends, Consistent with one of its most dependable habits, the administration chose to release an embarrassing item late yesterday, i.e the end of the week and the end of the year. The Milton Friedman Institute is no more. Although their news release gamely labors to put the best possible spin on this humiliating admission (http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2011/06/17/becker-friedman-institute-established-university-chicago), it announces that after a scant three years of operation, the much-heralded Milton Friedman Institute is being merged with the older, smaller Becker Center. Nowhere is it explained why such a merger was necessary and no new initiatives or directions are announced, just an administrative reshuffling (Gary Becker takes over, Lars Hansen moves down, Steve Levitt loses his title) and a change of name. The new entity will be known as the "Gary Becker Milton Friedman Institute for Research in Economics" (BFI). Apparently, it will not take over the old CTS Building in the new scheme of things, but will only "share space" there with the Economics Dept. And there is no more talk of raising $200M for it. Indeed, the release makes no mention of gifts or potential for same. The picture is that of a strategic retreat and a defensive regrouping. One can imagine a number of reasons why they've decided to take this step. Anemic fundraising would head the list, which might also include difficulty in recruiting and retaining personnel, the declining value of the Friedman name and reputation and not least, the costs of the long controversy. Economists do know how to calculate profit and loss, also -- perhaps -- when to cut their losses. No one ran up a white flag or conceded what is evident, but those of us who rallied against the MFI and all it represents can feel some satisfaction. all best, BL -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
