Another pandemic lesson is that it is fine, thank you, to have fewer conferences. I know many people who were “conference-starved” during the pandemic. They actually began to crave attendance at these strange events. In turn, I have anecdotal evidence that conferences I have attended or organized recently have been far more popular than past such conferences. That suggests a higher level of appreciation and enthusiasm when conferences are scarce. Maybe that is a better world for everyone?
Also note that the “fewer conferences” proposal is highly compatible with “more conferences in nice places where you can sit outside” suggestion. That’s bad news for those midwinter conferences in Chicago or Philadelphia (this means you, American Economic Association).
Finally, my personal pet peeve: Most conferences, even exclusive ones, serve terrible food. When I organize conferences, I hire Indian caterers to give the attendees something a little different and a little better—plus it’s cheaper and great for vegetarians. I’m not saying every conference should serve Indian food. But if you’re going to the trouble of gathering everyone from afar, you might also consider serving them something more appetizing than rubber chicken.
Tyler Cowen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of economics at George Mason University and writes for the blog Marginal Revolution. His books include The Complacent Class: The Self-Defeating Quest for the American Dream.