Fact and Fiction in Economics Models, Realism and Social Construction [Hardcover]

This collection provides a thoughtful overview of the debate about the status of economic knowledge.Bringing together some of the leading figures in the field of economic methodology and philosophy, this collection provides a thoughtful and balanced overview of the current state of debate about the status of economic knowledge. Representing the most current thinking on a topic of enduring interest to economists and philosophers and other social scientists,the book is notable for the extent to which authors from opposing schools of thought engage seriously with their opponents.Bringing together some of the leading figures in the field of economic methodology and philosophy, this collection provides a thoughtful and balanced overview of the current state of debate about the status of economic knowledge. Representing the most current thinking on a topic of enduring interest to economists and philosophers and other social scientists,the book is notable for the extent to which authors from opposing schools of thought engage seriously with their opponents.Bringing together some of the leading figures in the field of economic methodology and philosophy, this collection provides a thoughtful and balanced overview of the current state of debate about the status of economic knowledge. Representing the most current thinking on a topic of enduring interest to economists and philosophers and other social scientists, the book is notable for the extent to which authors from opposing schools of thought engage seriously with their opponents.Part I. Introduction: 1. The dismal queen of the social sciences Uskali M?ki; Part II. Setting the Scene: 2. Ugly currents in modern economics Mark Blaug; 3. Modern economics and its critics Partha Dasgupta; 4. Some non-reasons for non-realism about economics Uskali M?ki; Part III. Economic Theory and Economic Reality: 5. Credible worlds: the status of theoretical models in economics Robert Sugden; 6. Models, stories and the economic world Mary MlÓ: