Recent Developments in Economic Methodology (International Library of Critical Writings in Economics). 3 Volumes.

Product DescriptionThis important collection tackles the main developments and contributions by the leading individuals in the field of economic methodology since 1990.Volume one looks at the chief historical developments, including articles on Popper and Lakatos, rhetoric and discourse, realism, constructivism, the economics of science, and symmetry and reflexivity.The second volume focuses on new, leading approaches - feminist economic methodology, postmodernism, and methodological pluralism and open systems thinking - and also covers broad topics of concern - rationality, philosophy of mind, and evolution.Volume three brings together articles explaining the methodological choices of economists, and includes sections on models and assumptions, econometrics, microeconomics and macroeconomics, normative themes, formalism, and history of economics. The volume concludes with a set of discussions on the present state of economic methodology.Review'Since the publication of The Philosophy and Methodology of Economics, edited by Bruce Caldwell, the range of topics and of approaches has greatly expanded, and not only in predictable directions. We now have extensive debates about the scope of the subject (and whether that is itself a set of appearances defined by our interpretations), the processes of theory invention, the social, psychological and economic influences on these processes, including the assumptions and boundaries that are appropriate and the kinds of causal explanations that are acceptable, the importance of persuasion and the role of narrative. Exploration of these conceptual issues is now increasingly complemented by investigations of the variety and evolution of economists' practice; these are not only intrinsically welcome, but may engage the interest of those who shun "methodology". This collection offers a substantial and accessible guide to what has been happening, and should encourage readers to watch out for, and even participate in, further developments.'About the AuthorEdited by John B. Davis, Professor of Economics, Marquette University, US and Professor of Economics, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands