2nd Edition

Foundations of Economic Method A Popperian Perspective

By Lawrence A. Boland Copyright 2003
    360 Pages
    by Routledge

    360 Pages
    by Routledge

    Many consider Foundations of Economic Method to be Lawrence Boland's best work. This updated edition is radically changed from the original and will be much appreciated by thinkers within economics. The book positions methodology vis-à-vis the current practice of economists and is all the better for it. Yet another book that not only deserves to be read by those within the field of economic methodology, but also by those involved in economics at all. Boland is back.

    Prologue: Understanding the Methodology of EconomicsPart 1: The 'Hidden Agenda' of Neoclassical Economics1. The problem of Induction vs. the Problem with Induction2. The Explanatory Problem of IndividualismPart 2: The Visible Agenda of Neoclassical Economics3. Rationality vs. Maximization4. Maximization and Game TheoryPart 3: Critical Applied Methodology5. Ideal-Type Methodology and Intrumentalism6. Psychologistic-Individualism and the Methodology of New Institutional Economics7. Equilibrium-based Explanations vs. Individualism8. Imperfect Knowledge vs. Imperfect Behaviour9. From Macroseconomics to Evolutionary Game Theory10.Time and Evolution in Economic TheoryPart 4: A Critique of Traditional Economic Methodology11.Intrumentalism vs. Conventionalism: Against Rule-based Methodology12.Optimistic and Defeatist Conventionalism13.Falsifiability without Popper an the AgendaPart 5: Putting Popper on the Agenda14.Understanding Popper's Theory of Science15.Situational Analysis and Neocalssical ExplanationPart 6: Applied Methodology for Economics Model Building16.Knowledge and Learning in Economic Models17.Individualism and Social Knowledge18.Obstacles to Building Realistic ModelsEpilogue: Problem-oriented Methodology: towards a Popperian 'small-m' Methodology of Economics

    Biography

    Lawrence A. Boland is Professor of Economics at Simon Fraser University, Canada. He has published widely within economic methodology and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.