simardcasanova’s avatarsimardcasanova’s Twitter Archive—№ 10,963

                                  1. There is this belief in economics, I think widespread, that if you’re not in a top institution, it’s because somehow you’re not good enough. You’re not good enough with math, you’re not good enough with econometrics, with this, or that. That’s non-sense. 1/n
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                                1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
                                  Rare, or even non-existent, are the people who are skilled in *everything*. It’s normal to not be good at everything. But for people in non-top institutions, they often interpret this as a proof they are not good enough-period. 2/n
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                              1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
                                Because here’s the thing, a trend I’ve noticed in the non-top institutions where I navigate since the beginning of my PhD: self-censorship. I’ve met so many brillant and talented people who have such a low opinion of themselves (academically speaking). 3/n
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                            1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
                              When I’ve discussed this with them, the answer is invariably the same: « if I were that great, I wouldn’t be in a non-top institution ». But there’s a logical flaw in the reasoning, probably also made by people at top institutions. 4/n
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                          1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
                            Maybe top institutions have a higher chance to attract talented people. That’s likely. But it does not mean that all talented people are necessarily in top institutions. Some sort of fallacy of composition at play here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy_of_composition?wprov=sfti1 5/n
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                        1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
                          The problem is that talented people at non top institutions are an asset for the field - for any field, actually. Good ideas can come from everywhere. And any field benefits from having a large flow of good ideas. 6/n
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                      1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
                        As a PhD in a non-top institution, if tomorrow I have a genius idea, I would probably not even *try* to publish it in a top journal. Or anywhere, btw, because I’m so disappointed by econ academia that I’ve decided to leave the field. 7/n
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                    1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
                      The reason I wouldn’t even try is because I don’t have the network. I don’t know the editors, I don’t know the right people. And if I publish it in a lower ranked journal, it won’t be noticed. It’s a race I have no chance to win. Zero. Nada. Winning it is not playing it. 8/n
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                  1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
                    It’s so gross that I’ve noticed first hand papers getting rejected in journals because they are too close to papers that PhD students of some high profile researchers are *about to submit*. Yeah, you read it correctly. And I’m talking of a top journal. Is this science? 9/n
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                1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
                  This thread is half about general observations, half about myself (sorry). I’ve got prizes during my PhD, people with really long resumes ready to write recommendation letters. I even managed to get fundings! I interpret all of this as a signal of some sort of competence. 10/n
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              1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
                But I feel unheard. My voice can’t reach anyone. No matter what I’m saying. Because, yeah, I’m not (and will never be) in a top institution. Even at my own research center, some have said *publicly* « we should hire more promising PhD students ». Thanks for trusting us… 11/n
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            1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
              It’s so bad that literally 15 days after the beginning of my PhD, I’ve been told by someone who should have been much more supportive that I can only « expect a mediocre career ». Thanks for giving me a chance. And: hello, self-fulfilling prophecies… 12/n
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          1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
            I know what I’m capable of. I know how hard I’ve worked, despite all the negativity, and the lack of trust. I know my leadership skills. And the rest. I could definitely help economics, even modestly. I have no expectations for a Nobel (lol). I just want to be useful. 13/n
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        1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
          I won’t be useful. Because, again, I’m so disappointed that I’ve decided to leave. And how many like me also left, and are now getting paid to use their skills outside academia? Probably a lot. 14/n
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      1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
        And it’s not that I fear competition, or that there are not enough academic jobs. Sure, we wouldn’t mind more. And I can fight. I just don’t understand why I should fight so hard to, at the end, not being heard because, you know, I’m not from a non-top institution. 15/n
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    1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
      I will sure miss economics, especially now that I’m discovering more and more of the good sides (and marvelous people) of #EconTwitter. I will undoubtedly have a hard time adjusting. But I’m ready to swallow the pill, and transition. I’ve known so much worse. 16/n
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  1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
    So at the end, economics would probably benefit to give a larger place to its talented people who are not in top-institutions. But I don’t think it will happen, unfortunately. And that makes me really sad for our science. 17/17
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    1. …in reply to @simardcasanova
      Addendum: thriving in non-top institution probably requires a different set of skills that thriving in top institutions. Tenacity, lateral thinking, initiative, endurance. Those skills are too often wiped out from our field. And maybe it would be better off with them onboard…
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