Fond memories of Hashem Pesaran « Economics Job Market Rumors

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Fond memories of Hashem Pesaran

Economist
8031

Given the recent discussion of his Nobel-worthiness, I thought I'd share an anecdote of mine.

I met Pesaran a few times at conferences, where I was struck by his willingness to spend time with a nobody like me. Feeling emboldened, I later invited him to speak at a seminar - he agreed, and I don't need to say that I was very pleased. In his email, he even spoke fondly of his memories of our discussions. My spirits rose further.

Some months later, and before the seminar was about to begin, our eyes met and he walked towards me, hand outstretched. I was so pleased to think that it had all been true. I was somebody.

The words out of his mouth are seared into my memory:

"You're the IT guy, right?"

(as he handed me his memory stick)

7 years ago # QUOTE 58 Volod 1 Vlad !
Economist
c852

There is a harrowing beauty to this story.

7 years ago # QUOTE 9 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
28fd

is "memory stick" a euphemism for something else?

7 years ago # QUOTE 10 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
8a00

OP good! I would have felt humiliated.
Btw, isn't the OP worried that Pesaran will identify him now?

7 years ago # QUOTE 3 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
a6be

Pesaran's faux pas, Bro, not yours.

7 years ago # QUOTE 6 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
0395

OP writes very well.

7 years ago # QUOTE 7 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
8031

I think my problem is that I dress too scruffily at conferences.

I have a similar memory of a UN technical committee meeting, which I attended as an "observer." During a break for refreshments, the committee chair moved towards me and mouthed "Ah, you're the technical guy."

I couldn't believe that this star of the academic and political world knew of my work! I proceeded to briefly explain how I saw my contribution to the technical literature. His eyes glazed over and he stared blankly at me, without offering a further word. Only the arrival of the maintenance guy saved me.

"Ah, there you are!"

He had thought that I was there to fix the coffee machine...

7 years ago # QUOTE 20 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
0eb3

*A poignant tear runs down my cheek*

7 years ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
d5f7

He remembered who you were and remembered the content of the discussion you had with him, that it the important thing.

I mean, its embarrassing but as someone who doesn't remember faces very well I hope you don't hold a grudge.

7 years ago # QUOTE 1 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
d5f7

Erm, hope you arent holding a grudge.

7 years ago # QUOTE 1 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
373c

It was a clear sunny day. A heavyweight was visiting my LRM place to give a seminar talk.

"May be you should go and talk to him, you know, as he works in the same field as you?", the department chair said.

I was hesitant. This paper was my favorite baby, I nurtured her for months. I didn't want a brute to touch her.

"No, no, he is a nice guy", said the chair, "he will be helpful".

After the talk was over, we had a one-to-one scheduled.

We exchanged pleasantries. I briefly told him about the idea and how I handled it so far.

"This is an interesting idea. I think it has potential", said the big man, wisdom coming out of his wrinkled forehead. A bald man with carefully monitored eyebrows, his words seemed to carry remarkable insight. I was delighted, my baby is saved.

"However", he paused, and so did my heartbeat, "what about endogeneity?"

I was speechless. After spending countless hours on EJMR, I knew it was coming. But so soon?

"I have controlled for everything reasonable, and the IV seems to be good one, don't you think so?", I faintly said, crestfallen from the mountain of ego boost a moment earlier.

"What do you think the endogeneity might come from?", I could hardly push out the words.

"Endogeneity is everywhere. Did you think you were safe with IV?", said the behemoth with a grin on his face.

I couldn't say anything. I never thought that I would see this day, but I knew in my heart at that very moment that I was dealing with the Fiekers Guy, the mythical creature robbing the hopes and dreams of so many people in the murky underworld of EJMR for such a long time.

7 years ago # QUOTE 10 Volod 1 Vlad !
Economist
0395

^ deserves MUCH more love

7 years ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
bbf5

Probably he forgot to take his pill.

Given the recent discussion of his Nobel-worthiness, I thought I'd share an anecdote of mine.
I met Pesaran a few times at conferences, where I was struck by his willingness to spend time with a nobody like me. Feeling emboldened, I later invited him to speak at a seminar - he agreed, and I don't need to say that I was very pleased. In his email, he even spoke fondly of his memories of our discussions. My spirits rose further.
Some months later, and before the seminar was about to begin, our eyes met and he walked towards me, hand outstretched. I was so pleased to think that it had all been true. I was somebody.
The words out of his mouth are seared into my memory:
"You're the IT guy, right?"
(as he handed me his memory stick)

6 years ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
ecff

is "memory stick" a euphemism for something else?

Yes, it is code for the memories that cum from a stick

6 years ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
91cf

Ah, those were the days

5 years ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
ce1a

I'm not sure why, but I think of this every Christmas.

5 months ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
4b09

He is very nice and humble

5 months ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !
Economist
e213

He is very nice and humble

I had a horrible experience with him. He kept insisting that is VAR was a structural model. Bizarre and self-absorbed person.

5 months ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !

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Fond memories of Hashem Pesaran

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