Reassessing the Paradigm of Economics

Reassessing the Paradigm of Economics PDF

Author: Valeria Mosini

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2011-07-28

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 1136658211

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When President Reagan and Prime Minister Thatcher adopted the neoliberal doctrine as the paradigm of economics, there was no evidence that the move would have been successful, but thirty years on, the recurrent crises that culminated in 2008 suggest a serious mis-match between expectations and outcomes: a re-examination of the paradigm is in order. This book focuses on Milton Friedman’s formulation of the neoliberal doctrine, and analyses two aspects that were essential to turning it into a fully-fledged paradigm: the attribution of scientific status to positive economics, which led to informing public policies on the requirements of the market; and the characterisation of economic freedom as capable of promoting political freedom, which led to identifying free market with democracy. The book exposes Friedman’s methodological argument for attributing positive economics scientific status as a failure, and his characterisation of economic freedom as a delusion; it identifies in the emergence as the mainstream in economics of the neoclassical synthesis, which borrowed from Walras’ the mathematical treatment of equilibrium but not the ethical and social framework in which it was inscribed, a development that facilitated the transition from the Keynesian to the neoliberal paradigm. Dr. Mosini shows that the gigantic bail-outs carried out courtesy of the public purse, which institutionalised the practice of collectivising losses while keeping profits private, were no accident, but the consequence of the rethinking of the function of lender of last resort according to Friedman’s conception of rationality in relation to risk, combined with his interpretation of the 1930s recession. The book concludes that the neoliberal paradigm has served the interests of the economically powerful social strata it was designed to benefit extremely well, but that the deep, and deepening, injustice it has brought about calls for a complete rethinking of the paradigm of economics according to ethical principles respectful of human values. This book should be of interest to students and researchers of Political Economy, Economic Methodology, History of Economic Thought and Philosophy.

Revisiting New Institutional Economics as a Meta-Paradigm

Revisiting New Institutional Economics as a Meta-Paradigm PDF

Author: Amit Karna

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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This paper is aimed at looking at New Institutional Economics (NIE) as a meta-paradigm i.e. group of paradigms that has common roots and has evolved over a period of time as an integrative theory. In the last two decades, the field underwent considerable development, and an attempt is made here to collate it on a framework and find out the way ahead. NIE has developed as a movement within the social sciences, especially economics and political science, which unite theoretical and empirical research examining the role of institutions in furthering or preventing economic growth. The essential idea of NIE is that the success of a market system is dependent upon the institutions that facilitate efficient private transactions. Simply put, NIE tackles social, economic, and political institutions that govern everyday life. It takes a wider view and approach to issues that are considered under categories of law and economics, applied industrial organization, public policy, and other specialties. NIE is seen by many as an extension to neo-classical economic theory by incorporation of property rights and transactions costs into the orthodox frameworks for analysis so as to better explain economic behavior. The paper looks at the field right from the evolution of the field, discusses the analytical perspective, differentiates it from the traditional institutional economics, discusses criticism versus the defense and finally looks at the future prospects for the field.

Ecological Economics for the Anthropocene

Ecological Economics for the Anthropocene PDF

Author: Peter G. Brown

Publisher: Columbia University Press

Published: 2015-09-01

Total Pages: 408

ISBN-13: 0231540426

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Ecological Economics for the Anthropocene provides an urgently needed alternative to the long-dominant neoclassical economic paradigm of the free market, which has focused myopically—even fatally—on the boundless production and consumption of goods and services without heed to environmental consequences. The emerging paradigm for ecological economics championed in this new book recenters the field of economics on the fact of the Earth's limitations, requiring a total reconfiguration of the goals of the economy, how we understand the fundamentals of human prosperity, and, ultimately, how we assess humanity's place in the community of beings. Each essay in this volume contributes to an emerging, revolutionary agenda based on the tenets of ecological economics and advances new conceptions of justice, liberty, and the meaning of an ethical life in the era of the Anthropocene. Essays highlight the need to create alternative signals to balance one-dimensional market-price measurements in judging the relationships between the economy and the Earth's life-support systems. In a lively exchange, the authors question whether such ideas as "ecosystem health" and the environmental data that support them are robust enough to inform policy. Essays explain what a taking-it-slow or no-growth approach to economics looks like and explore how to generate the cultural and political will to implement this agenda. This collection represents one of the most sophisticated and realistic strategies for neutralizing the threat of our current economic order, envisioning an Earth-embedded society committed to the commonwealth of life and the security and true prosperity of human society.

The Rate and Direction of Inventive Activity Revisited

The Rate and Direction of Inventive Activity Revisited PDF

Author: Josh Lerner

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2012-04-15

Total Pages: 715

ISBN-13: 0226473031

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This volume offers contributions to questions relating to the economics of innovation and technological change. Central to the development of new technologies are institutional environments and among the topics discussed are the roles played by universities and the ways in which the allocation of funds affects innovation.

Relationship Economics

Relationship Economics PDF

Author: Mr Bryan K Ritchie

Publisher: Gower Publishing, Ltd.

Published: 2012-08-28

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13: 1409459632

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In a 24/7 world and a global economy, there is no doubt that relationships impact virtually every economic transaction. In Relationship Economics, Lindon Robison and Bryan Ritchie argue that what needs to be understood is not just whether relationships matter (which, of course, they do), but also, how much, and in what circumstances they should matter. Providing a rigorous and measurable definition of the way that relationships among individuals create a capital, social capital, that can be saved, spent, and used like other forms of capital, Robison and Ritchie use numerous examples and insightful analysis, to explain how social capital shapes our ability to reduce poverty, understand corruption, encourage democracy, facilitate income equality, and respond to globalization. The first part of the book explains how social capital can be manipulated, stored, expended, and invested. The second part explores how levels of social capital within relationships influence economic transactions both positively and negatively, which in turn shape poverty levels, economic efficiency, levels and types of political participation, and institutional structures.

The Experience Economy

The Experience Economy PDF

Author: B. Joseph Pine

Publisher: Harvard Business Press

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13: 9780875848198

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This text seeks to raise the curtain on competitive pricing strategies and asserts that businesses often miss their best opportunity for providing consumers with what they want - an experience. It presents a strategy for companies to script and stage the experiences provided by their products.

A Handbook of Alternative Theories of Public Economics

A Handbook of Alternative Theories of Public Economics PDF

Author: Francesco Forte

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Published: 2014-03-28

Total Pages: 567

ISBN-13: 1781004714

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This comprehensive and thought-provoking Handbook reviews public sector economics from pluralist perspectives that either complement or reach beyond mainstream views. The book takes a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach, drawing on economi

The Econocracy

The Econocracy PDF

Author: Joe Earle

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2017-07-06

Total Pages: 283

ISBN-13: 0141986883

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A century ago, the idea of 'the economy' didn't exist. Now economics is the supreme ideology of our time, with its own rules and language. The trouble is, most of us can't speak it. This is damaging democracy. Dangerous agendas are hidden inside mathematical wrappers; controversial policies are presented as 'proven' by the models of economic 'science'. Government is being turned over to a publicly unaccountable technocratic elite. The Econocracy reveals that economics is too important to be left to the economists - and shows us how we can begin to participate more fully in the decisions which affect all our futures.

Economic Woman

Economic Woman PDF

Author: Frances Raday

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-05-14

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 1317281322

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The author introduces the concept of economic woman and makes her visible in duality with and opposition to the exclusive model of economic man. Economic man has epitomized neo-liberal capitalism, which embraces competition and maximization of profit, resulting in a steep increase in economic inequality. The book demonstrates that women’s inequality is a crucial factor in economic inequality, which cannot be fully understood without relating to women’s situation, and that economic woman cannot thrive in the conditions of economic inequality created under global neo-liberalism. Emphasising the international human rights guarantees of women’s right to equality in all fields of life, the author documents woman’s increased participation in political, public, financial and corporate institutions, employment and entrepreneurship, with some women reaching high profile positions. Nevertheless, using global data, she reveals that economic woman lags behind, with a severe economic power deficit, an unfulfilled promise of equal employment opportunity, a gendered impact of poverty and barriers to gender equality in the family. The book analyses the trap of women’s increased burden of breadwinning in the context of discriminatory laws and practices, infrastructural failures and policy gaps, which preempt achievement of gender equality in economic life. The book is intended for the general reader, academics, students, policy makers and NGOs. It shows economic woman at a global crossroads between a universal paradigm of gender equality and pervasive barriers to equal economic opportunity. The author demonstrates that tackling gender inequality, restoring welfare priorities and reducing economic inequality are inextricably linked. Human rights and governments have a vital role to play in addressing them all, to create a sustainable economic infrastructure for the lives of women and men.

Economics of Sovereign Wealth Funds

Economics of Sovereign Wealth Funds PDF

Author: Mr.Udaibir S. Das

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2010-12-09

Total Pages: 330

ISBN-13: 1589069277

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The book covers a wide range of topics of relevance to policymakers in countries that have sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and those that receive SWF investments. Renowned experts in the field have contributed chapters. The book is organized around four themes: (1) the role and macrofinancial linkages of SWFs, (2) institutional factors, (3) investment approaches and financial markets, and (4) the postcrisis outlook. The book also discusses the challenges facing sovereign wealth funds in the coming years, from an inside perspective on countries, including Canada, Chile, China, Norway, Russia, and New Zealand. Economics of Sovereign Wealth Funds will contribute to a further understanding of the nature, strategies and behavior of SWFs and the environment in which they operate, as their importance is likely to grow in the coming years.