找到微观基础——公共选择理论的中国困境

为什么公共选择理论在中国只有大量的理论介绍，却缺乏真正的经验性研究呢？本文从公共选择理论在中国经验研究的相对死亡谈起，分析了中国政治学研究者在应用广义的理性选择理论上所遭遇的尴尬处境，强调其病根在于未能理解“微观基础”的方法论意义。在对“微观基础”进行界定之后，本文梳理了“经济人假设”的中国式争论，指出导致研究者拒斥微观基础的两个历史包袱：一是整体主义方法论的路径依赖对思维构成了强大的束缚；二是研究者们大都善于单纯的归纳逻辑，而不习惯需要综合演绎与归纳方法的假设检验逻辑。然后本文进一步指出了微观基础背后潜藏的三点病因：意识形态的干扰、政治正确的自我审查、政治科学的整体落后。最后，本文粗略展望了相关领域潜在的研究方向，并提出了三点有限的建议。

The Way to Microfoundation. Methodological Reconsiderations from Public Choice to Rational Choice

Why are empirical researches of the Public Choice theory absent in China, whereas theoretical introductions are prevalent？ This paper through analyzing the absence of empirical research suggests that the answer underlies the methodological misunderstanding of microfoundation by most Chinese political science researchers, who are confronted with a paradox in the related studies with application of the rational choice theory in a broader sense. On defining microfoundation and exploring the relevant debates on the economic man, this paper goes further to outline two historical origins which produce the rejection of microfoundation by many Chinese researchers： one is the path dependence of methodological holism and the other is the constraints of cognitive preference toward pure induction. Moreover, I explore three underlying factors of the methodological misunderstanding - ideological interference, political correctness, and backwardness of the entire discipline. Finally, the paper roughly prospects several potential research issues and proposes three tentative constructive suggestions.