Another Introduction

I’m Tristan Reed, and I’m honored to join Megan’s crack team of guest bloggers for the week. I agree with Peter that introductions are akward, so I'll just give you my paragraph long CV, and hope that convinces you to read me.

I’m an entering economics Ph.D. student at Harvard, with research interests in development and behavioral economics as well as political economy. I’m taking next year off to work for the Jameel Poverty Action Lab in Sierra Leone, working with NGOs and international institutions to evaluate their development programs and find out which ones work, and for whom.

In my posts this week, I'll try to bring you the latest in economics and political science research, and to spark some discussion about what it all means.

Comments

I'm sold.

Posted by Michael B. | March 30, 2008 8:14 PM

"the latest in economics and political science research [from academe]"

Why would we want to read stuff that appeared in blogs 3 years or more ago?

Posted by D | March 30, 2008 8:42 PM

I will be interested in what you learn about NGOs and foreign aid. My understanding is that micro-lending is far and away the best for getting aid to the actual people who need it. And without property rights and an impartial judiciary it is very difficult to create lasting positive change.

Posted by m | March 30, 2008 8:53 PM

D, above, nails it.

And, oh yeah, Harvard home of all those Enron folks AND Eliot Spitzer!!!

Posted by Sidney | March 30, 2008 9:32 PM

I realized that this guy is brilliant. But couldn't the Atlantic allow someone from the vast number of other good schools write for them. Just occasionally, could a non-harvard person be chosen?

Posted by R. Pointer | March 30, 2008 9:51 PM

Do you need to be able to spell properly to go to Harvard?

Or, in the case of blog posts, be able to use the automatic mis-spelled word detection and correction feature?

Grin.

Welcome.

I spent many good lunch hours at the Faculty Club once upon a time.

Posted by D | March 30, 2008 9:54 PM

Tristan,

Are you a nut like Megan or are you reality-based? We need more of your CV than just a paragraph, because I can't tell what Ayn Rand would think about the "Jameel Poverty Action Lab." I'm thinking maybe it's in line with Megan's moral outlook if the Lab's goal is to castigate the poverty-stricken by telling them it's their own fault that they're poor. But if that's so, then there's no reason to go all the way to Africa to do that--you can start on the upper west side (where Megan grew up is poverty).

Posted by Blake | March 30, 2008 10:06 PM

What exactly are "akward" introductions? Is that just Harvard jargon? I'm utterly miffed.

Posted by Lady Lucy | March 30, 2008 10:22 PM

You'll have to forgive my blog-mates. They forgot their manners. Welcome to the blog.

Some more on your background would be nice. How do you know Megan? And are you ready for the brutal assault on logic that is this comment section?

Posted by stanfo | March 30, 2008 11:05 PM

Have you forgiven your parents for naming you Tristan? Or are you a trustafarian who had to lump it, like Megan?

Posted by Nyquil | March 30, 2008 11:26 PM

Welcome. I look forward to reading your posts, and hope that somebody has been delegated to delete the ruder/spammier comments in Megan's absence.

Posted by Princess of Swords | March 30, 2008 11:40 PM

"hope that somebody has been delegated to delete the ruder/spammier comments in Megan's absence."

Oh man, you guys are so fucking funny.

Posted by NutellaonToast | March 31, 2008 12:55 AM

Andover or Exeter, Tristan?

Posted by screwharvard | March 31, 2008 12:33 PM