Our Daily Bleg: What Do You Get an Economist?

Freakonomics reader Presh Talwalkar, author of the Mind Your Decisions blog, wonders why there’s no holiday-gift guide for economists:

I see many practical applications to such a list. It could help students give gifts to professors, businesses give gifts to hired economists, etc. Perhaps this list would reduce the “deadweight loss” of Christmas gifts.

The problem, of course, is that economists — like cynics — are said to know the price of everything but the value of nothing. Talwalkar, however, is pressing on. He’s listed a few ideas on his blog — along with why they would appeal to the economic-minded:

Calvin and Hobbes: Even economists need to laugh once in a while. But there is an interesting connection that Calvin and Hobbes were named after those famous philosophers, so it is not surprising that many of the plot lines are about economic discussions in governance and parenting.

Arrested Development: O.K., this is a personal choice … but I suspect economists would enjoy watching the strategy of scheming family members. And the writing is great.

But Talwalkar wants to build a much more comprehensive guide. So blog readers, what would you get an economist? Or economists, what sorts of gifts are you hoping for?