The post by Parisi Daniela Fernanda wraps up the discussion that followed her original message about an open position for an economist who would be teaching standard courses at that school. The discussion that ensued was most stimulating on so many levels. The negatives were about the declining value attached to history of economics by our fellow professionals. The de-listing of HET journals was a blow to the collective psyche. But at the same time, it reiterated the fact that doing work in this area is a passionate affair for most practitioners.

So here's my question: Why not make information about teaching jobs, which are mostly in short supply,  available to those in the community who are interested in the history of economics, even if the job description does not include HET courses? One hopes that having secured the position, the scholars may have some influence on their colleagues in redirecting their thinking on the lines of what Daniela said: "I am convinced - and I know I am not the only one - that "the future of history of economics depends on safeguarding positions in economics", and that "how to think critically and historically about economics" should be a key issue on which the economists and the students of economics should be focusing."

If the institutions are not hospitable to pursuing these goals, let us at least help plant enough provocateurs wherever possible to make some impact on the departments. They may not be able to publish in the downgraded journals for promotion purposes, but I doubt you can keep them from doing so once the obligations to orthodoxy are adequately met. We are talking about passion after all. So posting such advertisements on the list, where you will find people with genuine interest in the field, is actually an act of forward thinking.  

Cheers,

Sumitra Shah