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Biology Quote by Kenneth Arrow

“I do sense, as compared with let's say the early '50s, there's somewhat more of a careerism. I don't think it's anything special to economics; it's equally true with physics or biology. A graduate education has become a more career-oriented thing, and part of that is because of the need for…” quote by Kenneth Arrow
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“I do sense, as compared with let's say the early '50s, there's somewhat more of a careerism. I don't think it's anything special to economics; it's equally true with physics or biology. A graduate education has become a more career-oriented thing, and part of that is because of the need for funding. In fact, that's a much worse problem in the natural sciences than it is in economics. So you can't even do your work in the natural sciences, particularly, and even to some extent in economics, without funding.”

Kenneth Arrow

About This Quote

Source Speech: Lecture on Economics and Funding, Kenneth Arrow, 1990

Academic fields increasingly prioritize careers and funding, making research dependent on external resources.

In simple terms: Research now often hinges on money and career goals.

Key Takeaway

Seek funding but maintain intellectual integrity.

Themes

academia funding careerism

Mood

critical pragmatic

Type

analytical informative

When to use this quote

  • grant writing
  • career planning
  • research projects
  • institutional policy

Key Concepts

resource dependence disciplinary pressure

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance funding needs with scholarly curiosity?
  • Can research thrive without external money?
A Different Perspective

Funding constraints can bias research topics and limit curiosity.

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