Critical realism and Kantian transcendental arguments

Tony Lawson has made use of transcendental arguments, as developedby Roy Bhaskar, to criticise mainstream economics. This importationof Kantian ideas into economic methodology is commendable, sincethey offer the best means available for diagnosing and overcomingthe empiricism that underlies mainstream economics. This paperargues, however, that instead of using Bhaskar's transcendentalarguments, critical realists would do better to employ Kant'sown, which are of direct relevance to economic methodology andhave greater persuasive force than Bhaskar's.     

Economics, realism and reality: a comparison of Maki and Lawson

There is presently considerable debate about the applicationand interpretation of realism in economics. Interest in thisarea of the philosophy and methodology of economics has intensifiedover the last twenty years, especially owing to the substantialcontributions by Uskali Mäki and Tony Lawson, respectively.Although their work falls under the same banner of realism ineconomics, their projects differ significantly in many importantrespects. This review tries to clarify the contrasting approachesof each author and explains the main reasons for the differencesbetween them. The emphasis is on clarification of their respectivepositions rather than a comprehensive critical evaluation assuch.     

Economics as progress: the LSE approach to econometric modelling and critical realism as programmes for research

In the face of claims that economics is increasingly drivenmerely by fashion, this paper draws out certain similaritiesand differences between two self-consciously progressive anddevelopmental research programmes—namely the LSE approachto econometric modelling and critical realism in economics.The argument is that, while these two programmes of researchshare a common point of departure and possess many common elements,what at root distinguishes them is their adoption of opposingphilosophical orientations. The comparison enables both thenature of each programme, and the relevance of their commonconcerns, to be more easily appreciated and helps clarify thesort of evidence that would provide a basis for selecting oneproject over the other.     

Rothbardian demand: A critique

This paper refutes Rothbard??s claim that the law of diminishing marginal utility implies a non-increasing demand curve. It is argued that the law under Rothbard??s interpretation is, in fact, irrelevant for demand theory. An example of increasing demand is provided.     

Boettke,The Austrian School and the Reclamation of Reality in Modern Economics

In a series of recent papers, the prominent Austrian economist Peter Boettke has criticised orthodox economics for its lack of realism. This paper situates Boettkes critique in the context provided by recent developments in the methodology of economics, most notably critical realism. While there is a good deal of common ground between Boettkes approach and critical realism, the latter also helps to reveal some of the limitations of the variant of Austrian economics to which Boettke subscribes. Suggestions are made as to how critical realists and Austrians such as Boettke might move forward together in developing a more realistic, relevant and fruitful approach to economic analysis.     

Historical reference: Hume and critical realism

The purpose of this paper is to make the case for discussingdevelopments in the history of thought as having the potentialto inform modern discussion. The case is made by means of consideringthe particular relevance of David Hume's thought for criticalrealism, emphasising his use of the concepts of belief and imaginationboth in establishing philosophical foundations and as beingrelevant for theory content. The notion that context is significantis used constructively by suggesting that important elementsin common between the contexts of Hume and of modern discussionsreinforce the potential value of considering Hume's ideas.     

Development and distribution: A critique of the cross-country U-hypothesis

This paper questions the validity of a modern paradigm, viz., the U-Hypothesis. It argues that notwithstanding contrary claims, the recent cross-country econometric studies by Ahluwalia and others have little in common from a methodological point of view with Kuznets' earlier intertemporal national studies. Ahluwalia's cross-country U-Curve is found to be based on defective statistics and questionable methodological premises. In specific, the estimation of one U-Curve from observations on both LDCs and DCs is criticised. A sample restricted to the LDC group considerably weakens support for the U-Hypothesis. Further, even marginal variations in the data set lead to the virtual disappearance of Ahluwalia's empirical relationship. The paper concludes that the cross-country U-Hypothesis is more of a hindrance than an aid to our comprehension of the relationship between economic growth and income distribution.     

A critique of capitalist man

Humanistic economics is founded on the reality of human needs. One of those needs is for truth. According to the correspondence theory, that truth is a relation between statement and objective reality. This reality serves as a constraint on the (ego) self. Therefore, it can also be shown that self-interest is an independent principle from the commitment to truth, and that these two principles can clash. These two principles of the self, or the “higher” and “lower” self, constitute what we call the dual self.     

独立董事制度:历史根源与研究现状

独立董事制度的研究,是公司治理研究的一个热门课题。独立董事制度与董事会制度之间存在着密切的关系。基于代理理论的视角,董事会制度的产生缘于解决代理问题的需要。董事会制度的产生发展可以分为三个阶段:第一个阶段是内部人控制阶段,第二阶段是外部董事(即独立董事)为主的阶段,第三阶段是委员会制度阶段。董事会制度发展的第二阶段实际上是标志着独立董事制度的产生,而董事会制度发展的第三阶段从另一个角度看,也就意味着独立董事制度的新发展。独立董事制度作为一项泊来品,我们要对其加以运用,有必要对独立董事制度在西方的应用条件以及应用现状有所了解,对此笔者对西方有关独立董事制度的研究作了综述。     

Backwater Economics: A Life Story

Abstract:

Economics is sometimes portrayed as a contest between saltwater and freshwater, between the coastal pseudo-Keynesians and the Great Lakes neo-Walrasians, between the flaws-and-friction model-builders and the free-market hard-liners. As evolutionists know, both habitats are fairly sterile. Evolution occurs in the backwaters, in the mudflats, bogs, lagoons, cypress swamps, and wetlands, in the shadows of perpetually endangered habitat. This essay sketches a personal journey through the backwaters. Intellectually they are my home, as they have been for every other recipient of the Veblen-Commons prize, with just one exception …     

语言的经济学分析:一个综述

本文对语言经济学这门新兴交叉学科的产生与兴起、研究现状及其学科定位等进行了总结和评述。语言经济学孕育于民族主义问题之中,发端于加拿大的官方语言问题,它的兴起成就于人力资本理论和教育经济学。语言经济学有广义与狭义之分。广义上,语言经济学采用经济学的理论、方法及工具,把语言和言语行为当作普遍存在的社会和经济现象来加以研究;狭义上,语言与劳动收入关系研究、语言政策与语言规划的经济学分析、语言动态发展的经济学分析以及博弈论在语言学中的应用等构成了当前语言经济学研究的主要内容。伴随着经济的全球化,语言经济学的重要性正在提升,一方面,语言经济学为语言学的相关研究提供了新的视角和思路,带来新的分析工具;另一方面,它也正在为经济学自身提供新的研究话题。