Steve Levitt, a UChicago economics professor and co-author of Freakonomics, announced his retirement from academia in a podcast episode. Levitt mentioned a tumultuous relationship with Heckman, describing him as a genius with a difficult personality. The episode also touched on rumors of a war between Heckman and Levitt, with posters around campus. Despite the conflict, Heckman is praised as a wonderful teacher. The podcast has gained significant attention, with over 6,100 downloads and discussions on topics such as the toxic atmosphere in the UChicago economics department in the 90s, the future of Price Theory at UChicago, and the evolution of economics towards 'technification.'
Thus far, the @CapAndFreedom podcast episode with @StevenDLevitt (UChicago economics prof and @Freakonomics co-author) announcing his retirement from academia has garnered 6,131 downloads, 5.6k transcript views, individual thread tweet views ranging between 15k and 500k views. https://t.co/ZJ6dV68zGD https://t.co/IhwmGIDgzn
Steve Levitt on the future of economics https://t.co/y06BWZ5qh8
Some reactions to the (wonderful) Levitt interview. 1) On the @uchicago PhD program and the atmosphere in the department in the 90s (toxic?). 2) On Price Theory and its future at @uchicago and beyond. 3) On the "technification" of economics and the blurring of theโฆ
This is quite interesting, on the Econ profession, Freakonomics, Chicago, etc. https://t.co/1HFtyFIT3K
Jon Hartley podcast episode with Steve Levitt https://t.co/5Jzx2bBfEm
These are chicago econ department stories are very real, very cool to hear it from Levitt. Have heard rumors about Heckman vs Levitt war, including one campaign that included posters around campus. But Heckman is a wonderful teacher. https://t.co/OdCpVWKOMr
Levitt on Heckman at @UChi_Economics in the latest @CapAndFreedom podcast episode: "An absolute genius, but a nightmare personality. He eventually decided that he and I were at war for the future of again although I never saw it that way. And he did crazy things. I just tell youโฆ