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Bozo, Bubbles, and Bus DriversNew Obama appointee Austan Goolsbee's contributions to Slate over the years.

Updated Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, at 5:05 PM ET

Barack Obama announced today a new Economic Recovery Advisory Board, which is supposed to give him the "independent, nonpartisan" skinny as he tries to pull the country out of economic quicksand. The board's chief economist and staff director is Austan Goolsbee of the University of Chicago, who advised Obama during the campaign. (You may remember a small ruckus he caused by seeming to soft-pedal Obama's stance on NAFTA to the Canadians.) At Slate, we have fonder memories of Austan. He was our beloved "Dismal Science" columnist in 2005 and 2006—a contributor whose calls we loved to take because he has the best radio voice ever. And long before that, he was a dear friend and college debate partner to Dahlia Lithwick, Slate's Supreme Court dispatcher. Below are Goolsbee's contributions to Slate over the years.

"Michael Moore and the Beige Bomber: He's got the indictment of health care right, but not the fix." Posted July 1, 2007.

"Where the Buses Run on Time: The lure of incentive pay." Posted March 16, 2006.

"The Benefits of Bozo: Proof that TV doesn't harm kids." Posted Feb. 16, 2006.

"It's Not Your Grandpa's Moral Hazard Anymore: The problem goes corporate." Posted Dec. 8, 2005.

"The Grip of Gas: Why you'll pay through the nose to keep driving." Posted Sept. 27, 2005.

"Pump It Up: Don't worry about price gouging now. Worry later." Posted Sept. 7, 2005.

"Bubble-lusions: Why most real-estate agents aren't getting rich." Posted Aug. 26, 2005.

"Tragedy of the Airport: Why you get stuck for hours at O'Hare." Posted July 25, 2005.

"The '529' Rip-Off: Those new college savings plans aren't so great." Posted Aug. 23, 2002.

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