This is very disheartening for me to read. I have been a big fan of the field of Economic Complexity, Hidalgo, and Hausmann. I have read many books and articles that were written by them. I even cited Hidalgo multiple times in my "From Poverty to Progress" book series.
I had no idea that something like this was going on behind the scenes. As a former professor, I know that well-known academics often take credit for the work of their younger colleagues. I know neither of the parties and therefore cannot judge who is correct, but this needs to be thoroughly investigated by Harvard. Normally, this would be swept under the rug but Harvard is under significant pressure on other issues. Maybe this time will be different.
Update: I read the full 22-page document at the bottom of the article. His story rings true. It was obvious to me from reading Hidalgo’s solo books and articles that he was always the creative genius behind the collaboration. I had no idea that Haussmann was trying to get the lion’s share of the credit and financial returns.
If Haussmann does not come back with a strong rebuttal, then I know who to believe.
I was going to make the same sort of comment, because it still is confusing as to who wrote itYou probably added "This open letter was reprinted from X with permission from the author."
Change that to "Today's Substack is not be me. Instead, I reprinted this open letter from Twitter with permission from the author, Cesar Hidalgo of the Toulouse School of Economics."
Dishonest professors generate the same in their students.
The dishonesty takes many forms.
I’m looking at identical syllabi of undergrad and graduate courses- the former being sold for less than 1/3 the price of the latter. Same sleepy professor is using the same old text. A fancy “ranked” school of biz is ripping off its students, charging $50,000 for a low energy MBA program.
Have the elites been living and profiting off of being liars, cheats and thieves since Wilson’s (D) demand for “experts,” and FDR’s placement of “experts” in charge of the country?
Wow.
This is very disheartening for me to read. I have been a big fan of the field of Economic Complexity, Hidalgo, and Hausmann. I have read many books and articles that were written by them. I even cited Hidalgo multiple times in my "From Poverty to Progress" book series.
I had no idea that something like this was going on behind the scenes. As a former professor, I know that well-known academics often take credit for the work of their younger colleagues. I know neither of the parties and therefore cannot judge who is correct, but this needs to be thoroughly investigated by Harvard. Normally, this would be swept under the rug but Harvard is under significant pressure on other issues. Maybe this time will be different.
I hope that justice is served.
Update: I read the full 22-page document at the bottom of the article. His story rings true. It was obvious to me from reading Hidalgo’s solo books and articles that he was always the creative genius behind the collaboration. I had no idea that Haussmann was trying to get the lion’s share of the credit and financial returns.
If Haussmann does not come back with a strong rebuttal, then I know who to believe.
I was going to make the same sort of comment, because it still is confusing as to who wrote itYou probably added "This open letter was reprinted from X with permission from the author."
Change that to "Today's Substack is not be me. Instead, I reprinted this open letter from Twitter with permission from the author, Cesar Hidalgo of the Toulouse School of Economics."
Read →
I have made this update
Thanks. I was initially very confused by who wrote the letter. Little did I know that the author was one of my favorite thinkers: Cesar Hidalgo.
I am stunned...
For those who do not know, Cesar Hidalgo is no ordinary academic.
Cesar Hidalgo is a brilliant academic talent in a very relevant emerging field: Economic Complexity
I would highly recommend his books:
"Why Information Grows"
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Information-Grows-audiobook/dp/B01KKM14U2/
"The Atlas of Economic Complexity"
https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Economic-Complexity-Mapping-Prosperity/dp/0262525429/
You can find summaries of these books and more articles by Hidalgo in my online library of book summaries:
https://techratchet.com/?s=hidalgo
Difficult to expect much better from the recent victor for last-place (among 251 contenders!) in FIRE's Free Speech Rankings: https://www.thefire.org/news/2025-college-free-speech-rankings-expose-threats-first-amendment-rights-campus
Dishonest professors generate the same in their students.
The dishonesty takes many forms.
I’m looking at identical syllabi of undergrad and graduate courses- the former being sold for less than 1/3 the price of the latter. Same sleepy professor is using the same old text. A fancy “ranked” school of biz is ripping off its students, charging $50,000 for a low energy MBA program.
Even those of us with tiny audiences can share these exposes as our good deeds of the day.
Have the elites been living and profiting off of being liars, cheats and thieves since Wilson’s (D) demand for “experts,” and FDR’s placement of “experts” in charge of the country?
To ask is to answer.
Oh I will move that to the top
done