Bridging the Gap between an Economist and a Comedian

When a person thinks about an economist, they think about someone who’s in academia who teaches economics to students or who advises government on economic policies. And when someone thinks about comedians, they think about a person who tells jokes about different subjects.

Earlier today, Yoram Bauman, Ph.D, part-time professor at the University of Washington, who is also a stand-up economist, gave a presentation in the LSC theater as part of the Literacy Financial Week at Sam Houston State University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics from Reed College in Portland Oregon and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in economics from the University of Washington. “Comedy works when there are stereotypes and they are strong stereotypes about economist, so it is easy to [do]”, Bauman said. In 2008, he did a supply-side world tour in Europe and Israel.

His presentation was fun and interesting because he made fun of those who are in the profession such as the macro-economist. But his main focus is on environmental tax reform. It involves raising taxes on air pollution, fossil fuels, etc. and lowering taxes on income, etc. so that it will force those to find alternate resources that will be good for the environment. Bauman’s three main goals in performing stand-up are:

1. Spread the joy of economist comedy to the world
2. Get people excited about economics
3. Pollution pricing and environmental tax reform

The presentation was great because not only did it make people laugh, but it introduced a new type of genre that seems opposite to each other and it gives a new avenue to get an important message across to the audience.

For more information about the Stand Up Economist, click here.
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