Spring Break
Stand-up economist to add comedy to hard times
Heather Holm / Activities Editor
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: News
Yoram Bauman said people might be economists if they refuse to sell their children, because they know the children will be worth more later.
Bauman is a comedian with the sole focus of poking fun at economics - he is the world's only stand-up economist.
He will perform at 7 p.m. today in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.
Bauman will present the history of economic humor, the state of the current economy and tell more "you might be an economist if …" jokes.
Bauman thinks the current state of the economy makes his act a little funnier.
"People are looking for something to calm down the sting," he said.
Bauman said people usually think economics is boring, dry and dull. He disagrees.
"It's nice to get them to laugh and put a friendly face on it," he said.
Linda Ghent, an economics professor, saw Bauman perform a few years ago at a conference, and has seen clips of him on YouTube.
"I think it is interesting that he is a stand-up comedian and Ph.D. economist," she said.
Ghent saw the "Principles of Economics, Translated" video that talks about the 10 principles of economics.
"The best part about it is that other people can understand it," Ghent said. "I thought it would be funny to bring him in with the state of the economy, where people could either laugh or cry."
She said she has shown the video to her classes at the end of the semester.
"I'm the only one who has seen him live and that was about two and a half to three years ago," she said. "He did the 'Principles of Economics' bit and in the middle of his act, he talked about environmental issues in a serious way."
Ghent said Bauman did a three-minute spiel on environmental protection. Bauman teaches part-time at the University of Washington in the environmental studies program.
Bauman said he put together the "Principles of Economics, Translated" as a graduate student at the University of Washington.
"I posted it on YouTube, and it got, like, half a million hits," Bauman said.
Since then, he has performed at the New York City Improv Club and the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting, among many other venues and colleges.
Tim Mason, associate economics professor, said students should attend because the event is free, and because Bauman is actually quite funny.
"Students always complain there is nothing to do in Charleston," Mason said. "Thousands of students have to take economics classes, and (this event) is free, so the marginal cost is incredibly low and the marginal benefit is incredibly high."
Bauman is also working on a cartoon book about economics that will come out in 2010.
"That is the most exciting thing I am doing right now," Bauman said.
The book will be called "The Cartoon Introduction to Economics" and will be co-written with Grady Klein.
The Department of Economics and the Economics Club are sponsoring Bauman's speech. It is free and open to the public.
Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or haholm@eiu.edu.
Bauman is a comedian with the sole focus of poking fun at economics - he is the world's only stand-up economist.
He will perform at 7 p.m. today in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.
Bauman will present the history of economic humor, the state of the current economy and tell more "you might be an economist if …" jokes.
Bauman thinks the current state of the economy makes his act a little funnier.
"People are looking for something to calm down the sting," he said.
Bauman said people usually think economics is boring, dry and dull. He disagrees.
"It's nice to get them to laugh and put a friendly face on it," he said.
Linda Ghent, an economics professor, saw Bauman perform a few years ago at a conference, and has seen clips of him on YouTube.
"I think it is interesting that he is a stand-up comedian and Ph.D. economist," she said.
Ghent saw the "Principles of Economics, Translated" video that talks about the 10 principles of economics.
"The best part about it is that other people can understand it," Ghent said. "I thought it would be funny to bring him in with the state of the economy, where people could either laugh or cry."
She said she has shown the video to her classes at the end of the semester.
"I'm the only one who has seen him live and that was about two and a half to three years ago," she said. "He did the 'Principles of Economics' bit and in the middle of his act, he talked about environmental issues in a serious way."
Ghent said Bauman did a three-minute spiel on environmental protection. Bauman teaches part-time at the University of Washington in the environmental studies program.
Bauman said he put together the "Principles of Economics, Translated" as a graduate student at the University of Washington.
"I posted it on YouTube, and it got, like, half a million hits," Bauman said.
Since then, he has performed at the New York City Improv Club and the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting, among many other venues and colleges.
Tim Mason, associate economics professor, said students should attend because the event is free, and because Bauman is actually quite funny.
"Students always complain there is nothing to do in Charleston," Mason said. "Thousands of students have to take economics classes, and (this event) is free, so the marginal cost is incredibly low and the marginal benefit is incredibly high."
Bauman is also working on a cartoon book about economics that will come out in 2010.
"That is the most exciting thing I am doing right now," Bauman said.
The book will be called "The Cartoon Introduction to Economics" and will be co-written with Grady Klein.
The Department of Economics and the Economics Club are sponsoring Bauman's speech. It is free and open to the public.
Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or haholm@eiu.edu.
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