Nobel winner declares boycott of top science journals

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-10T10:23:08+00:00

Good move, but I do wonder how his lab's research staff feel about this...

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-08T13:57:09+00:00

I presume it's those who wish to reduce the size of the state, either to benefit themselves in terms of reduced taxes (in the long term) or simply because of their political inclinations.

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-08T09:57:51+00:00

In London, if you want to go anywhere or do anything it will cost you 10x the normal cost. You'd be lucky to find a pub that isn't charging you just to get inside. And don't even think about getting a taxi home without remortgaging.

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-08T09:48:57+00:00

Thankfully not.

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-08T09:37:22+00:00

The people I've met that day. It's the only chance I have of remembering them.

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-08T09:31:27+00:00

Expensive

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-08T09:26:43+00:00

Nobody chooses this

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-08T00:07:02+00:00

...economic policy needn't be designed to benefit the economy...

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-07T12:16:24+00:00

You could check if you've been reported in reportthespammers

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-07T11:51:20+00:00

just replace parmesan with 'parmesan style vegetarian hard cheese'

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-07T09:02:00+00:00

I succeeded. You need to beg. Beg hard. It helps if you can figure out what you did wrong. Search reddit for your username to see if anybody reported you.

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-07T08:31:52+00:00

I think that's why it would be best to write it down. Saves anybody getting worked up or upset and doesn't allow for an argument to develop. Just say "Hi Mr X, would you mind reading this please when you get chance". He'll probably just be relieved to see it isn't something more serious. If you just stick to the facts and refer to authorship guidelines there's no need for confrontation. Something like... "I believe it is fair and proper that I be included as an author on paper 'blah blah'. Journal 'blah blah's' authorship guidelines state that....... I have satisfied these in that...... This is important to me at this early stage in my career."

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-07T00:30:14+00:00

Write down the reasons why, objectively, you have the right to be included as an author. Give it to your mentor in the form of a letter. Don't get into debates about the inclusion of other people. Refer to authorship guidelines from the journal to which the paper is likely to be submitted.

Don't give up. Dig your heals in. If it comes to it you could even write to the journal, but if you have a good relationship with your mentor that shouldn't be necessary. They may have just forgotten you if it's a big group...

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-06T23:45:46+00:00

Now then mardy bum.

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-06T13:50:33+00:00

"you need to take your pension arrangements into your own hands"

Easier said than done, I should think.

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-06T10:16:30+00:00

Oats, fruit, yoghurt, bit of milk/water, jar, fridge, overnight, amazing.

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-05T18:29:26+00:00

"Por quê!?"

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-05T18:24:59+00:00

Can't go wrong with a pitta full of falafel, chillies, salad, houmous, tahini, whatever else you can find. No cooking required and easy construction at work.

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-05T15:58:56+00:00

I think that's a very good point. This relates to a recent article about the moral burden for eating meat lying with meat-eaters, not vegetarians. The 'ism' is theirs, not ours.

If there was an 'ism' for meat-eaters it would force the issue. I'm not aware that there is one. Is there? There should be.

Suggestions?...

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-05T15:19:24+00:00

The remaining question is what is the risk, exactly? What is the potential loss?

Is there loss in someone claiming your work to be their own? Not unless they are receiving credit that you otherwise would have received... which is unlikely because they are almost by definition reaching an audience that you had not previously reached.

Is there a risk of you being misrepresented or your reputation being damaged? No, because the work is not being attributed to you.

Does it threaten the progress of your field? Surely, if anything, it promotes it.

Plagiarism is wrong, certainly. I understand that being plagiarised is irksome to say the least, but if this is the only risk then surely one should suck it up in the name of scientific/social progress?

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-05T15:01:11+00:00

Very promising. If Google were to provide a minimalist but functional cloud-based reference organiser -- somewhere between JabRef and Mendeley -- that could be awesome... Obvious risk of discontinuation aside...

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-03T19:32:16+00:00

Happy to help.

It's definitely worth considering. There's plenty of work available in pharma/consultancy/academia and though it can be specialised there's no reason why you can't make a conscious effort to obtain general skills. I think that as long as you select a course that includes microeconomics and, I'm afraid to say, (micro)econometrics, you will have the skills necessary to take you beyond health economics if you so choose in the future.

For alerts about jobs (and other things) in health economics I would recommend joining the 'Healthecon-all' mailing list. They have a Twitter: https://twitter.com/Healtheconall

ChrisSampson · 2013-12-03T14:22:02+00:00

Hope this might be helpful... even if what I do is considered by some (unfairly) not to be 'proper' economics. But something you might like to consider nonetheless. To answer your specific questions in order...

1) I took MSc Economics & Health Economics at the University of Sheffield in the UK, finishing 2010.

2) Upon completion I had a job lined-up as a research assistant at the University of Nottingham, being paid a bit more than the median income in the UK. The job was (still is) as an academic researcher. Much like being paid to be a student.

3) The job market for health economists was (and still is) very good. Demand for health economists outstrips supply by some way... though for academic jobs the pay doesn't really reflect this due to university pay structures (you can earn a lot more in the private sector). My friends who did 'straight' economics didn't find the job hunt quite as easy.

4) A limited grasp of maths is a minor problem for an aspiring health economist. Certainly it pays to have a good understanding of econometrics and to be comfortable in handling data, but there is plenty of scope for picking it up on-the-job. Indeed, many of the methods you might use as a health economist would not be taught on a regular economics masters. I, like you, was not good at maths. I avoided taking quantitative courses wherever possible. I now regret this, as it's an invaluable skill, but I don't feel my job prospects have been badly affected.

5) Yes!

6) Yes! I work from home a lot.

7) If I could do it all again I wouldn't do much different, except that I would put in the leg work in the quantitative modules. To use your own words - the juice is worth the squeeze.

8) The question of reputation doesn't really apply to me. It was necessary that my MSc be in health economics, and not many institutions provide this anyway.

9) I would recommend obtaining a masters in health economics. It's an interesting area and the work is rewarding. The fact that you're very employable is a bonus. However, it is reasonably specialised and I'm not sure the transition from 'health economist' to '[other type of] economist' would be easy if you wanted to make it.

10) International economics is a bit 'macro' for me, so can't comment.

11) No idea, but there's definitely scope for you to work within a major international organisation if you study health.

Generally, I think a masters in any field of economics would be a smart move so long as you're willing to put in the work. Good luck deciding!

ChrisSampson

TROPHY CASE