The Popperian Legacy in Economics
Papers Presented at a Symposium in Amsterdam, December 1985

This volume examines why Sir Karl Popper's view of empirical falsifiability as the distinguishing characteristic of science has found appeal among economists.

Neil de Marchi (Edited by)

9780521070232, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 31 July 2008

296 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.44 kg

This volume examines just why and in what sense, Sir Karl Popper's view of empirical falsifiability as the distinguishing characteristic of science has found appeal among economists. The limitations of this tenet, both for a philosophy of science and as a guideline to economic inquiry, are examined, as are several of the proposed alternatives.

Part I. Popper as a philosopher of science: 1. An appraisal of Popperian methodology Daniel M. Hausman
2. The natural order J. Klant
Part II. Popper among the economists: 3. Ad hocness in economics and the Popperian tradition D. Wade Hands
4. Popper and the LSE economists Neil de Marchi
Part III. Falsification and trying to do without it: 5. The case for falsification Terence W. Hutchison
6. John Hicks and the methodology of economics Mark Blaug
Part IV. The missing chapter: empirical work and its appraisal: 7. Finding a satisfactory empirical model Mary Morgan
8. The neo-Walrasian program is empirically progressive E. Roy Weintraub
Part V. Non-Popperian perspectives on economics: 9. The case for pluralism Bruce J. Caldwell
10. Thick and thin methodologies in the history of economic thought Donald N. McCloskey
11. Economics as discourse Arjo Klamer.

Subject Areas: Economic theory & philosophy [KCA]