South side blues: An oral history of the Chicago school

Oral history has always held a rather ambiguous position within the study of economics. While widely read and enjoyed, such interviews are secretly scorned, dismissed as merely a lightweight diversion. Yet, to conduct revealing and insightful work of this type is difficult, requiring a firm grasp of economics, especially individual contributions to the discipline. This article examines my own attempts to come to grips with the methodology and ideology of the Chicago School through a series of conversations with some nineteen of George Stiglers contemporaries. Oral history, if skillfully conducted, can prove to be one of the more useful tools in recapturing and understanding the past history of economics as a fiercely fought over discipline.