Economics + biology = ?

[TheKwas]

Thread is half personal and half science related.

I'm currently an University double majoring in Economics and Public Administration, but I'm thinking of droping the Public Adm and taking something else. The main field that I'm really interested in is Biology (evolutionary biology and ecology to be exact), but I'm not really sure if the two fields have enough overlap or relevance to each other to really justify taking them both. I know concepts like Evolutionary Economics and Ecological model of competition exist, but they seem fairly fringe and require only a very basic understanding of biology.

Are they too different? Is it a smart move, or am I just throwing away one major in the end? Are people going to think I'm an idiot? Am I an idiot? Do English and Rocket Science make a better pair?

[Wild Bill Kelso]

What about environmental economics?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_economics

It uses many biological principles in deciding prudent economic decisions. It might also tie in well with your public admin. component of your degree.

[Ummon]

If you feel like it, do it: interfield synergy is the best way to become a famous person, IMHO.

[Mathias]

I agree with Ummon, if you feel like it, do it.

[Spurius]

Sure, if you think the fields have more in common than differences, go for it. Bit late to start the field/school of 'ecology' - taken already, but 'bionomics' is still free, I think.

[Ummon]

Bionomics, that's hilarious.

But there's games theory in a way, somewhat overlapping.

[Spurius]

Erm there's a direct and valid comparison to be made how we run the economy/war (here's another neologism for you - warcology) today, and how we went about things when still in our progenitor-state.

War is very closely related to economy, and both have their biological roots. Our (near) extinction sometimes is directly related to it - see Easter Island. In fact, its probably warconomy that's going to do us in on a larger scale, no alien threat or superbug needed.

[TheKwas]

'bionomics' is still free, I think.

^-^

I think the bioeconomists out there will think it's a bit too similar:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioeconomics

I didn't think it existed either, but it's existance does make me happy and motivated.

What about environmental economics?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_economics

It uses many biological principles in deciding prudent economic decisions. It might also tie in well with your public admin. component of your degree.

From what I understand from Enviromental economics, it's mostly just dealing with externalities rather than actually dealing with scientific concepts.

I'll have to look into it more for sure.

But there's games theory in a way, somewhat overlapping.

But what field doesn't overlap with game theory?


Anyways, short thread but I think I'm going to try biology out. Even if it turns out a wasted a major it will give me more choice in the job market, and most kids only come out with one major anyways.


EDIT:

you are an economics major? i thought it was a hobby for you. How far along are you?

And how far along do you want to go with your econ degree? Is it application or theoretical based?

It was just a hobby until a year ago when I decided I was going to take all the maths I skipped in Highschool and study it. I started to find it too much like physics, where you need to know the rigid textbook definitions and standard mathematical models to fully grasp it. At the same time, I found my other loves (politics, sociology, ect) to be straightforward enough that I didn't need to study it in a standardized manner to understand it, even at higher levels.

I'm just finished one year in it, so it's just the basic theory at the moment and learning the applied math I'll need in the future.

[Spurius]

^-^

I think the bioeconomists out there will think it's a bit too similar:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioeconomics

I didn't think it existed either, but it's existance does make me happy and motivated.

hihi, can't make a joke anymore these days....

But indeed, the fact it's already out there in some form, is indeed encouraging.

[Mind you, as interdisciplinarian it's wiser - alas - to avoid words like holistic and chaotic models with the wrong crowd. Both are entirely valid, but mud shticks, and once people have bad connotations, it's best wrapped in more mainstream terminology. Just my 2 eurocents]

[JP226]

I'm currently an University double majoring in Economics and Public Administration, but I'm thinking of droping the Public Adm and taking something else. The main field that I'm really interested in is Biology (evolutionary biology and ecology to be exact), but I'm not really sure if the two fields have enough overlap or relevance to each other to really justify taking them both. I know concepts like Evolutionary Economics and Ecological model of competition exist, but they seem fairly fringe and require only a very basic understanding of biology.

you are an economics major? i thought it was a hobby for you. How far along are you?

And how far along do you want to go with your econ degree? Is it application or theoretical based?

[JP226]

It was just a hobby until a year ago when I decided I was going to take all the maths I skipped in Highschool and study it. I started to find it too much like physics, where you need to know the rigid textbook definitions and standard mathematical models to fully grasp it. At the same time, I found my other loves (politics, sociology, ect) to be straightforward enough that I didn't need to study it in a standardized manner to understand it, even at higher levels.

I'm just finished one year in it, so it's just the basic theory at the moment and learning the applied math I'll need in the future.

So you have your principles and intermediate micro/ macro 's done, and are beginning forecasting and econometrics??? And I assume you need up to the graduate level??

[TheKwas]

So you have your principles and intermediate micro/ macro 's done, and are beginning forecasting and econometrics??? And I assume you need up to the graduate level??

1st year is "Principals"; 2nd year first semester is "Theory of", so no forecasting as of yet (I'm not sure if 'theory of' includes forecasting, but my general impression right now is 'Principals of Economics on Math Steriods'). Econometrics you typically don't start until 3rd year, but since I'm trying to jam pack all my classes togeather, I'll be having it next semster. I'm also taking a 3rd year Eco Statistics class at the moment, so by the time 3rd year starts, I'll be two classes ahead of what is expected of me, which is what I need if I plan to pick up a new major so late.

[JP226]

1st year is "Principals"; 2nd year first semester is "Theory of", so no forecasting as of yet (I'm not sure if 'theory of' includes forecasting, but my general impression right now is 'Principals of Economics on Math Steriods').

that theory sounds like intermediate micros and macros. I assume you guys are having your -MRS and budget constraints, you set the MRS equal to the slope of the budget constraint and then take that simplified answer and plug that into the budget constraint. Clean the equation up and you have your neat little optimality equation. And I remember thinking, as easy as that was, they sure as hell tried to make it hard when they threw in a cobb douglas and made the U= to something like X1^alpha, X2^(1-alpha).

Be glad you are taking a econ stats class before econometrics. It makes life much easier. Once you learn your means, variances, corr, cov, hetero and homoskedastic errors, central limits, E and V operators, T test, z test, t dist, standard normal dist, etc etc... you guys can focus better on actual econometrics like linear, log linear, linear log and log log regressions. Plus things like you two stagers, probits and logits. Down here, they combine what is a 4000, or 4th year stats class into about 4 or 5 weeks and then teach you econometrics, and then you don't get through as many regressions as you need, or atleast need for the upper levels.

You might not even do forecasting, forecasting is the time series analysis. For theoretical purposes you don't really care about forecasting as much as relationships. And your typical relationship can be well enough explained by any number of regressions. It's more important for the cost benefit guys to "make a descsion" and/ or applied economists to validate the theory. And by validate I mean, to expain "enough."

[TheKwas]

Yeah, you got it.

I take it that you're finished your eco degree?

[JP226]

Yeah, you got it.

I take it that you're finished your eco degree?

I just finished my masters and am now teaching principles and doing research before i *fingers crossed* go to law school next fall.

[TheKwas]

Woh, you're old.

[JP226]

24 isn't that old, I finished my econ undergrad in about 2 years because i doubled up during the summer, then i took an accelerated masters program where i combined 2 yrs into one

[TheKwas]

Woh, you're in a rush.

[JP226]

i was because i was getting old and wanted to get into law school and finish before i tunr 30

and btw (no matter our political differences), if you need any help just PM me. I know how difficult some of those models can get.