Democrat and Chronicle staff and wire reports

(Sunday, February 3, 2002) -- Any talk given by economist Barry Asmus is part lesson, part laugh track. His speech at Tuesday's Monroe County Economic Summit was no different; Asmus found particular glee in taking potshots at his own profession.

"None of you woke up this morning thinking, 'Yes! I'm going to listen to an economist!' " he told the crowd at the Memorial Art Gallery. "Don't worry, I don't like them, either."

Asmus also joked that economists have correctly predicted "eight out of the last three recessions."