Talk:Frank Fetter

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Frank Fetter has had a peer review by Wikipedia editors which is now archived. It may contain ideas you can use to improve this article.

Frank Fetter was a good article candidate, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. Once the objections listed below are addressed, the article can be renominated. You may also seek a review of the decision if you feel there was a mistake. Date of review: 2007-03-20

[edit] Fetter an Austrian?

Was Fetter really an Austrian? The text of the article says that he didn't self-identify as one. I suggest that we remove "of the Austrian school". Bucketsofg 18:51, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

I think the verbiage in question is the following:

Despite his ideological proximity and personal rapport with eminent Austrian School economists such as Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk and Friedrich von Wieser, as well as his favorable reviews of works by Ludwig von Mises and F.A. Hayek, Fetter referred to himself, Thorstein Veblen, and Herbert J. Davenport as being members of the "American Psychological School."

If you will refer to the Austrian School article, you can see that the Austrian School is sometimes referred to as the "Psychological School" of economics. Therefore Fetter's self-description is synonymous, although more specific, since it specifies that he is an American, rather than Austrian economist in this theoretical line. The term more commonly in use today to classify this intellectual tradition is the now more general term "Austrian School." When I wrote the passage above I was confused on this point. I'll rewrite that passage to reflect the above. Do you think that takes care of the discrepancy? DickClarkMises 22:29, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

• I think that's better, but I wonder whether the opening sentence should not reflect a little more ambiguity than "of the Austrian school". (How early are the "Austrians" recognized as a "school", anyway?) Bucketsofg 23:15, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

There is some ambiguity because while the first major thinkers of the "Austrian School" were indeed Austrian, others who furthered their ideas were not. While it seems that it was common to have referred to the "Austrian School," it seems there was some desire to avoid vagueness on the part of non-Austrian thinkers in this line, and to choose a more theoretically descriptive name. As the Austrian School article states, Menger is generally considered to be the founder of the school, with his Principles of Economics being published in 1871. I used the "Austrian School" label because that is the most common modern descriptor for the school--that is, it seemed to me to be most useful for a modern reader. DickClarkMises 06:33, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

On the one hand that is quite reasonable, but on the other runs the risk of removing from the reader a little bit of the subtlety. I wonder whether we might not be able to find a formula like "economist whose views were associated to and influential on the emerging Austrian school" (I'm not quite sure whether "associated" is the best word here, but you get the idea.) Bucketsofg 12:40, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] GA failed

I have failed the article according to the GA criteria. The article is well-written and has sufficient sources but is missing a few things. First, see if you can add an infobox (look to other economists for examples or WP:Bio). The main reason that I have failed this article is that it is not broad enough. According the criteria, it is not necessary for it to be as comprehensive as the requirements for FA, but at this point, the article appears to be a start or B class at most. I'd recommend elaborating on the other sections, or the success/importance of the books he wrote. Did he develop any significant or notable theories that should be mentioned? There is also no mention of his death. Again, look to other articles for examples of what else to include. Keep expanding the article and then look over the GA criteria before nominating again. Consider getting a peer review to get more assistance in improving the article. --Nehrams2020 20:05, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the advice. I have added an infobox, a section noting some of Fetter's theoretical contributions, a few more accolades, and a smattering of additional sources. I have not been able to find any source whatsoever for the details of Fetter's death, something that I suspect has to do with the ripe old age at which he died. DickClarkMises 20:48, 21 March 2007 (UTC)