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Paul Johnson's avatar

Is not status an illusion? Maybe a personally useful illusion, even a useful pro social illusion, but still… and actually there is quite a lot economists have written about the pursuit of status. For example:

Adam Smith and Thorstein Veblen on the Pursuit of Status Through Consumption versus Work

Jon D Wisman

Cambridge Journal of Economics, Volume 43, Issue 1, January 2019, Pages 17–36, https://doi.org/10.1093/cje/bey015

Published: 23 May 2018

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Craig Palsson @ Market Power's avatar

I agree that status is an illusion in that it exists (mostly) in our psychology. But it still has real effects. It's like recognizing the biases discovered in behavioral economics. They are only biases in the way they contradict the illusions created in our economic models. But when you understand them you can use them to accomplish your goals.

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Alejandro Dinas's avatar

I have one additional goal and my theme is statistical programming.

My theme is how to program with Python and R in order to create a project that generates value for the people. I just know the basics of programming, so I have to study really hard so as to learn the basis of Python and make up a project that involves scrapping on it to improve my status in my university and the labour market.

On the other hand, my additional goal is to sharpen my portuguese skills to learn more about the process of learning, getting a job owing to that language; however, to be true I want to sharpen my portuguese skills to show off.

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Craig Palsson @ Market Power's avatar

Man, that would be so cool to see you and Enzo work together. Let me know if it works out. Boa sorte! (I took Portuguese in college, but it has been a while.)

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Enzo Aragão de Almeida's avatar

Hello Alejandro! I also have the same theme as you: statistical programming.

I am now learning Python and I have already made my first neural network. Very simple but still is an exciting beginning for me.

Furthermore, I am Brazilian, so I speak portuguese and maybe I could help you with the portuguese skills. Here is my e-mail if you want to talk about statistical programming or about portuguese:

enzoaaragao@hotmail.com

Anyway, good luck with your theme and goal!

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