<p>I thought those interested in the Chicago style of discussion would be interested in this passage from James J. Heckman’s autobiography (Nobel prize in economics).</p>
<p>"I was recruited by the University of Chicago in 1973. I have been there ever since except for an occasional leave and a two year appointment at Yale, 1988-1990. Chicago is an exciting place which renews itself. The workshop system encourages close reading and frank discussions of papers and ideas. When I first arrived, Milton Friedman was the most prominent economist there and set the standard for open in-depth discussions on almost any topic. Others filled his shoes after he retired.</p>
<p>Throughout the years, I have benefited greatly from many colleagues and from many first rate students at Chicago. There is a very rigorous intellectual standard in the Chicago environment. Discussions are conducted at a high level on all aspects of economics. Gary Becker, William Brock, Lars Hansen and Jose Scheinkman have been especially stimulating and helpful. I also enjoyed the cross disciplinary stimulation of my 20 year interaction with the sociologist James Coleman. I have also benefited from many interactions and co-authorships with the versatile Burton Singer of Princeton.</p>
<p>At Chicago, I have had close relationships with many students with whom I have co-authored numerous papers and from I learned much. One of the greatest pleasures of academic life is watching young tentative students form into finished mature scholars with well developed ideas. Much of my work in the past 20 years is joint work that emerged from interactions with my students and colleagues in offices and classrooms. The Chicago environment of open rigorous discussion has greatly enriched my research."</p>