In the novel, Fatal Equilibrium, Foster Barrett is a professor of classics at Harvard University. His character is stereotypically written, with an interest in classical music and maintaining the status quo at Harvard (meaning white male faculty members) as opposed to welcoming the changes that are being brought forth in other parts of the country and at other institutions. In the same novel, Denton Clegg is dean of the Economics department, one of the more important departments on campus, and also a murderer. This research considers whether economics can explain the behavior of both these characters, one a classical scholar and the other an economist, or if economics applies only to economists.
In the case of Foster Barrett, much of the description of him and his activities centers around his avoidance of modern technology and modern thinking; he is portrayed as a Luddite, spending hours preparing a meal that others would prepare much faster using store-bought components, or through the use of a microwave. He listens to classical music, not modern music, and he presents subtle barbs to those not of his own kind (or the kind he imagines himself to be), including those of color, or of less income, or without the knowledge or respect for Harvard tradition that he cultivates.
At first, there would seem to be little connection between Barrett's actions and economic theory, but a close examination of both reveals that Barrett does indeed behave in ways that are consistent with what an economist would expect and predict. For example, Barrett's meal preparation, which takes several hours, is one of the ways that he takes pleasure in life. In economic parlance, it provides him with more utils than another use of his time, at least in some instances. Barrett is not attracted to television, so that alternative use of time represents only a small benefit. Lacking other social engagements, he finds that cooking a fine meal relaxes hi...