Two government economists were returning

home from a field meeting. As with all government travelers, they were

assigned the cheapest seats on the plane so they each were
occupying
the center seat on opposite sides of the aisle.

They
continued their discussion of the knotty problem that had been the

subject of their meeting through takeoff and meal service until finally

one of the passengers in an aisle seat offered to trade places so they

could talk and he could sleep.

After switching seats, one
economist remarked to the other that it was
the first time an
economic discussion ever kept anyone awake.