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Duncan - none of the above. Just a jaundiced comment about the state of economics . My maths isn't great but mathematical proofs come in various guises - the inductive - try a few calculations and come up with a pattern and a rule, or use a deductive proof - usually a bit harder. The inductive proof of course proves nothing but might be useful, the deductive is rock solid. In economics we use both - or at least we used to. It seems that more and more the deductive proofs are being stripped away from A level economics, first indifference curves then theory of the firm then the Keynesian cross, so that we are left with the wish washy inductive stuff - discuss this in a role play etc.. Leaving us with something which doesn't deserve the title social science any more. Now it seems to me that once upon a time we might have tackled the elasticity problem the hard way - I wonder if there are any students out there that can manage that - it would be interesting to see. PS Cambridge Spies was ***p - you should have slept. Cheers Chris :-) On Saturday, May 10, 2003, at 11:11 AM, Duncan Williamson wrote: > Chris, > > It's Saturday morning. I fought falling asleep in the chair from 9pm > last > night until the end of Cambridge Spies on BBC 4. I've already > completed too > many jobs including changing a fuse in the plug that drives an > illuminated > globe! > > So, did you just post a compliment, a brickbat or general words of > support > or denial? I didn't get it!! > > Sorry > > > Duncan Williamson >