> I believe that most economists would shake their
>>heads sadly and observe that persons who deliberately and out
>>of free choice _choose_ to enter and remain in employment
>>sectors where they know - or should know - that compensation has
>>been low, is low, and will doubtless continue to be low, are
>>simply acting economically irrationally.
>
>From my limited contact with economics, the "economically rational man"
>theory as well as  all other. "all else being equal or of negligent effect"
>theories that lead to (and have led to) such atrocities as supply-side
>economics have no basis in reality.  This is why I did not do well in
>economics.
>
>Julia Moore


Also, economics historically has not, nor probably will never consider
humanistic factors in its figure-driven conclusions.  We are in this
business because we love it, not because we hope to get rich from it.
Museums can be such high profile institutions that those of us associated
with them can derive some noteriety simply from our association, as with
the opening of a blockbuster exhibit that gets a good degree of news
coverage.  There are plenty of non-monetary benefits from working in a
museum.

The public is virtually unaware of the salary discrepancies between our
profession and other fields of work.  They often tend to look at we who
work in museums with awe and admiration.  "Oh, you work at the [so and so]
museum??  That must be fascinating.  I wish I had your job."  How often
have we heard that?  I derive much pleasure in the fact that someone "on
the outside" envies my position here.  That alone adds to the satisfaction
I get from my job.  Even though there are salary discrepancies across the
board in the non-profit allied educational/cultural professions, as
compared to other fields, I don't think I'd trade my chosen line of work
for any other.  I feel that I'll always be connected to the museum
profession in one way or another.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Henry B. Crawford                                       v
Curator of History                                       v
Museum of Texas Tech University               v
Box 43191                                                   v
Lubbock, TX  79409-3191                         v
806/742-2442                                          v
FAX 742-1136                                            v
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All opinions expressed are mine                   v
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