I am pleased to report that I have been told today that I have been appointed as Professor of Practice in International Political Economy in the Department of International Politics at City University.
The appointment is a 0.2 position i.e. one day a week. It is salaried pro-rata and carries pro-rata teaching and research obligations.
I will be teaching a course entitled economics of the real world.
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Congratulations Richard!
Thanks
Really pleased very well deserved hope it does not mean that you will be blogging less
No way!
Many congratulations. We need a lot more on the political economy front.
That’s fantastic, Richard. We so much need good teachers. It’s probably going to be best thing you do (apart from being a husband and father, of course).
Wow giving these out to anyone now. Just interested what qualifies you for the role? Your accounting and economics degree from Southampton? I guess you’re what you get if you can’t get into a decent university.
That is unfair criticism.
It’s well know that you don’t need any qualifications to teach at a FE college or university. It’s just like a private school, they can appoint anyone.
There are, it is true, many courses on how to teach, including PGCEs and Diplomas aimed specifically at further education teaching but I am sure Richard will feel he just doesn’t need these.
Will Richie be giving back 0.2 of his grants? Seems like he’s short changing those who have already paid him.
All my funder’s knew this was coming – it has been under discussion for quite a while
This is good news Richard it means another ‘real world’ economist in an institution-good that its 0.2 you wouldn’t want the whole week in London away from family and blogging, research etc.
Great news Richard – “economics of the real world” – the more voices that are able to teach in mainstream, the better.
Thanks
Well done Richard. With the amount of work you have injected into this field, a professorship is a just reward.
It will give another layer of authority to your views and help silence some of the critics and those in the establishment who are intent on maintaining the current system from which only they and their agents can prosper.
For ‘outstanding research capability’ – Well done. If you are giving the module this term you’ve a lot to do.
Not this term, thankfully!
And thanks
Congratulations. But let’s stick at professor – we don’t want PM Corbyn earmarking you for his reformed House of Lords!
Now you are jumping the gun!
Firstly, congratulations! I hope you have a good time there.
By the way City university? Are they related to the City of London? Because that just makes me suspicious
Also, will you be putting up any lectures online like Prof. Steve Keen does?
City University is in …. The City
But not related
Lectures online? Let’s see…
I might do one first
Richard City University is indeed very much related to the City of London – you must know this.
City University’s Chancellor is the Lord Mayor of London http://www.city.ac.uk/about/chancellor-and-vice-chancellor/chancellor
And City’s own website boasts:
“City University of London has unique and deep-rooted links to the City of London” http://www.city.ac.uk/about/facts-and-achievements/the-city-of-london-and-the-university. It’s links date back to 1894.
You are entering the belly of the beast. It’s an odd choice.
I once worked in the City
I have always been willing to engage with it
My new colleagues have a long track record of challenging the City
I am really not worried by the links
It is almost a plus to be there and challenge its powers
I must confess, when I first read where your appointment was it did rather make me wonder if this isn’t an example of the City keeping their friends close and their enemies closer. I suppose we’ll see!
I think there is very little chance of me being bought
Me too! I do wonder though, whether some City Grandee hasn’t waved his cigar and said, “that critical fellow, what’s his name? Murphy, yes, Murphy… let’s get him where we can keep an eye on him, shall we?” It just seems odd the City embracing one of its foremost critics, one at the heart of opposition policy too. I’m not saying there actually are clandestine dark motives behind your appointment but one might be prudent to occasionally consider the possibility. After all, PQE alters the ratio of money created for free to money created into the economy at interest by the banks, away from the banks. It’s the first such move for what, centuries? And you’re the architect? And suddenly, a uni associated with the group of people most potentially affected by this want to give you a job? This could all be nonsense of course but you’d probably better avoid watching ‘The Omen’ for a while 🙂
I know exactly how and why I was nominated for this job
I assure you the move came from my fellow tax haven author Prof Ronen Palan
Sign me up pronto!!
Seriously though – many congratultations Richard. This is a just reward for your efforts and for having to put up with people like ‘Richard’ above.
I have been reflecting on your book ‘The Courageous State’ which I have read this year.
I think that what sets you apart from the many capable economists dealing with the problems of modern capitalism (I am still up to my neck in Picketty at the moment) is that your solutions are infused with a morality born out of a strong sense of social justice.
To me you are an ‘econo-humanist’. You do not pretend that economics is some sort of abstract science divorced from human life.
Good luck with the course. Your students are lucky people whom I hope you inspire to go on and do great things to make the world a better place.
Thanks
Appreciated
Congratulations Richard. Good to see that your students will get a dose of reality.
congratulations. Peter is so right about the importance of reality.
Congratulations Richard, or should that be Professor Murphy now ? Well earned and thoroughly deserved.
Treat the sour grapes from the neolibs with the contempt they so richly deserve.
Cometh the hour……..
Congratulations Richard on a well deserved appointment
Professor of Practice in International Political Economy, and offering a course in the economics of the real world!
First of all, congratulations on such a well deserved appointment, at a first rate institution, contrary to the ungracious whingeing of your namesake above, with his sneers about both Southampton and City Universities -JUST the sort of snobbery you’d expect from someone who is probably “educated beyond his intelligence.
As someone who went to Oxford, London, Westminster, Middlesex, Thessalonika and Athens Universities, I can testify that what really matters is NOT the University’s reputation, but the quality of relationship between teacher and taught, which can be surprisingly good where least expected.
And having met you, and heard you expound your ideas, I have NO doubt, but that your students will benefit immeasurably from your tuition and lecturing, not least in your ability to retrace the path out of the labyrinth of self – reference and self-validation that is neo-liberal economics, bringing “the dismal science ” out into the clear light of day.
There are plenty of monsters to slay; you just go get them. Well done, for all our sakes.
Thanks Andrew
Congratulations Richard. Well deserved. Fancy being able to teach economics within a framework of ethics and morality. Even the politicians will have to sit up and take notice.
I hope you get to teach the students in the City’s Masters’ programme in Quantitative Trading and Finance.
I am finite
And the main purpose is research
Ah well. There are surely others who need to hear you, even more than they do.
And, of course: congratulations, Professor Murphy!
Thanks Nile
congrats.. sure you will have great success planting seeds for the next crop of critical thinkers in the field!
Thanks
Congratulations on your new appointment!
The one key point that I’d wish all economics lecturers would impress on their students would the importance of the scientific method. The title of your course “The economics of the real world” is a good one in that respect.
It should mean that economic models have always to be calibrated against reality. It’s no good saying austerity economics should work. If its tried and it doesn’t work then the theory and the models need to be adjusted until they correspond with what we see happen in our economy. That means we don’t assume that real human beings are ‘economically rational’ in the way classical economists expect them to be. They are rational in the way they see it which isn’t at all the same thing.
agreed
We also have to ask real questions
Hear Hear petermartin
(And congratulations, Richard)
The scientific idea of starting from observations, rather than assumptions, doesn’t seem to have gained much traction in economics. But this news is hope for the future.
Starting with reality
Now there’s a revolution!
Congratulations Richard. A well-deserved appointment that will give more authority to your research and writings.
There should be more courses on “economics of the real world” but a pity it is the Department of International Politics that is offering it and not the Department of Economics. But step by step and maybe more economics departments will be shamed that they do not offer such a course.
Entirely agreed
Wholehearted congratulations.
Thanks Paul
Congratulations Richard, well done indeed, and for the snide remark about Southampton Uni it is irrelevant. The University of life is more important which you have plenty of!
I only let that one through to show the s**t you get by putting your head above the parapet
I am proud to have been to Southampton
And proud to be at City
Professor of Practice- Is that not an oxymoron?
I would have been more impressed if you had started a business and employed
say 10 people.
Still can’t complain too much, my son went to Southampton University and looks to be heading in the same academic direction.
Stephen
As someone who has started a number of businesses and employed rather more than ten people along the way maybe it is time to share the experience with the next generation
Sometime you may learn what life is about
One of those things is teaching those that follow on from us
@Stephen Griffiths. My former boss classified his contemporaries as either ‘radiators’ or ‘sinks’. Richard is a radiator!
I’m trying to be a whole central heating system
Well done! Congratulations Richard! Cheers, Ruedi
Thanks
Your phenomenal intellectual output is scary. I do hope you don’t make yourself ill or spread yourself too thinly. Your voice and reasoning at the front of fighting tax evasion is your most important work. Almost everything else flows from that. Best wishes
Chris
Thanks for your concern
My aim is to continue my work
The City post supports that: the research is going to be wholly consistent with my existing themese
And I have every intention of staying well!
Best
Richard
I agree, some relaxation also needed, nurture yourself sometimes. Many congratulations. Corduroy jacket and beard is it.
I have ordered some leather elbow patches for my favourite jackets
Presumably the real “real” world, as divorced from the mainstream economic and political “real” world. As practiced (in its literal meaning) by those in “power” ?
Congratulations. Don’t let it go to your head!
Go to my head?
It feels like a pile of new work right now…
Richard
Well done, that man. Richly deserved – and very well timed!
Thanks Tom
Compliments, it’s well deserved…and gives some hope for the good sense part of humanity!
Oh no!! Richard Murphy becomes an academic economist, he will be assimilated into the econoborg ! resistance is futile!. Seriously though- congratulations – a chance to get real world economics into academia.
One advantage of being 57 is knowing your own mind
I’m planning on keeping it!
Good on you Richard – you thoroughly deserve this!
We may disagree on quite a few things but we love your really!
From all the many people at “Justice for Pensioners” and the “Premier Shareholders Group” who over the years you have given consistent and unfailing support.
WELL DONE RICHARD!
Thanks
I’ve had to scroll down through so many good wishes … but I still wanted to add mine. Fantastic news Professor Murphy and just what the teaching of economics needs!
Liked your tweets too
Congratulations, and better an actual Southhampton than a mythical Perugia 🙂 I looked at the module, may I ask, do they build it around what they feel you can be expected to teach or the other way around, observe the need in their curriculum then look around for someone likely to fulfil it?
The course came first
That’s encouraging as it’s evidence the anti-neoliberal movement is growing 🙂
Many congrats Richard! Great news.
Brilliant news and so very much deserved! May the momentum be with you!
We’ve had disagreements before and you’ve been deleting my contributions, but I’d just like to say congratulations.
Ignore that loathsome remark about your only having gone to Southampton. Universities often view the real world with more snobbery than is consistent with producing capable graduates, and it’s good to see City valuing real-life experience.
Good luck with it all and well done!
Thanks
Many congratulations Richard. May your work continue to be an inspiration to us all.
” If you are in the business of finding out what’s true – whether that business is social science, military intelligence, journalism, the hard sciences or something else – there is an elusive quality you find among the best in the field. It might be called the Cold Eye. It’s not a term you will find in textbooks. It’s a matter of character as much as professional skill. It’s some combination of having the mental discipline to gird yourself against your own biases, the instinct to resist the tendency to think that knowledge once learned is static and an ability to look at more signals, data points and ideas from disparate places than other people usually do.
Perhaps more important, the Cold Eye is motivated by a deep intellectual independence and a passionate psychological connection to telling the truth.”
Congratulations and may you continue to bear the light of your Cold Eye on the hills of true democracy …
Best wishes
Joe
My commitment is to telling the truth
Experience shows it is not always easy
But I have some track record of delivering
Congratulations!
Over three decades ago I attended a course of economics lectures by the now-dead Marxist political economist Geoff Pilling, of North London Poly. He started off by describing how a colleague of his at the Poly would introduce his own economics course by pulling a wad of pound notes from his top pocket and wave it at his students. “You all know what this is, don’t you?” his colleague would then ask, and they would all nod and murmur their assent. The not-so profound analysis of the nature of money apparently stopped at this point and the course proceeded to study the operation of supply and demand. On Geoff’s course, however, we spent the next week, every day, all day, going through the first chapter of Capital Volume One. The experience has never left me, and I say that in a good way.
I look forward to seeing, at some point in the future, a Youtube version of your course a la David Harvey.
Congrats, from a graduate of City. So long ago…..
Thanks
and congratulations from me too
Very belatedly (I’ve been on holiday for a week without internet access), congratulations, Richard. Much deserved and I’m sure your students will benefit enormously from your knowledge and views.
Incidentally, the first thing I noticed when I hit The Guardian website this morning was their profile of you. Interesting reading. Brought up in Ipswich I see. Our paths may have unknowingly crossed all those years ago then, as I lived there with my grandparents in the mid 70s.
Small world
And thanks!