Economic Methodology by Marcel Boumans, Paperback, 9781137545558 | Buy online at The Nile
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Economic Methodology

Understanding Economics as a Science

Author: Marcel Boumans and John Davis  

Although it could be used as a core book in a pure methodological course, I use it as a supplementary text given the different nature of my course. In my opinion, the book could be used as a supplementary text in a variety of courses in economics. Indeed, it is able to clearly and comprehensively point out the main methodological challenge applying to the development of economic literature. In so doing, it represents a good background to build up students' knowledge in specific fields.' - Gianpiero Torrisi, University of Portsmouth 'The revised version of the book with the addition of the 'So what?' section is a welcome improvement. Indeed one of the missing elements of the first edition was the connection between methodological debates in philosophy of science, presented quite extensively throughout the text, and economic analyses carried out by economists. In other words an obvious question by an economics student could be why it would matter to study methodology in order to better understand economics. The 'Application' addition to each chapter tries to fill this gap and this is certainly good.' - Giancarlo Ianulardo, Exeter University 'These two books are nice complements. Boumans & Davis provides an approach of economic methodology within general philosophy of science while Maas treats methodological issues from an economic and historical perspective, with rather brief philosophical/methodological commentary.' - Melissa Vergara Fernandez, Erasmus University

Economic Methodology explores the status and character of economics as a social science and introduces students to philosophical issues underlying modern science. Essentially a philosophy of science for economists, it strengthens students' understanding and enhances their reasoning skills by introducing them to wider philosophical issues.

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Summary

Although it could be used as a core book in a pure methodological course, I use it as a supplementary text given the different nature of my course. In my opinion, the book could be used as a supplementary text in a variety of courses in economics. Indeed, it is able to clearly and comprehensively point out the main methodological challenge applying to the development of economic literature. In so doing, it represents a good background to build up students' knowledge in specific fields.' - Gianpiero Torrisi, University of Portsmouth 'The revised version of the book with the addition of the 'So what?' section is a welcome improvement. Indeed one of the missing elements of the first edition was the connection between methodological debates in philosophy of science, presented quite extensively throughout the text, and economic analyses carried out by economists. In other words an obvious question by an economics student could be why it would matter to study methodology in order to better understand economics. The 'Application' addition to each chapter tries to fill this gap and this is certainly good.' - Giancarlo Ianulardo, Exeter University 'These two books are nice complements. Boumans & Davis provides an approach of economic methodology within general philosophy of science while Maas treats methodological issues from an economic and historical perspective, with rather brief philosophical/methodological commentary.' - Melissa Vergara Fernandez, Erasmus University

Economic Methodology explores the status and character of economics as a social science and introduces students to philosophical issues underlying modern science. Essentially a philosophy of science for economists, it strengthens students' understanding and enhances their reasoning skills by introducing them to wider philosophical issues.

Read more

Description

Economic Methodology explores the status and character of economics as a social science and introduces students to philosophical issues underlying modern science. Approaching the subject as philosophy of science for economists, the authors use the historical developments in philosophy of science to frame this introduction to the field of economic methodology. By doing this they strengthen students' understanding of economics as a science to enhance their reasoning skills, introducing them to the wider philosophical issues surrounding our understanding of the area.

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Critic Reviews

“"This book is a good starting point to give students a wider view on economics as a science. Such a view is immensely useful, also later in life, to critically assess”

'This book is a good starting point to give students a wider view on economics as a science. Such a view is immensely useful, also later in life, to critically assess debates among economists and communicate without prejudice with non-economists.' Ben Gales, University of Groningen, The Netherlands 'In the best Blaugian tradition of balancing rigour and relevance, the second edition of this textbook adds to an already clear account of key methodological concepts. It reinforces the relevance of methodological tools to clarify economic debates.' Giancarlo Ianulardo, University of Exeter Business School, UK 'The book is a valuable companion for students interested in the conceptualisation and interplay of economic narration and its empiricism. It offers a sober view on the ongoing debate in economics, reinvigorated by the recent crisis.' Gianpiero Torrisi, University of Portsmouth, UK Praise for the first edition: 'This is a very innovative, clear, and well-informed text in economic methodology that fills an important niche.' D. Wade Hands, Professor of Economics, University of Puget Sound and Co-editor of the Journal of Economic Methodology 'This is an excellent book that goes beyond being a textbook. It is a contribution in synthesizing issues in methodology of economics.' Sohrab Behdad, Professor and John E. Harris Chair in Economics, Denison University, USA 'This book addresses an urgent need. The global economic crisis has provoked many students to question the scientific status of economics and normative reasoning of economists. This book shows how knowledge of the philosophy of science and science studies can help make such questions more sophisticated. Professors will be pleased with the sure-handed treatment of these fields given by Boumans and Davis; students will be grateful for the plentiful examples, as well as the 'So what?' sections, new to the second edition. I look forward to using this book for years to come.' Edward Nik-Khah, Roanoke College, USA.

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About the Author

Marcel Boumans is Associate Professor History and Methodology of Economics at the Utrecht School of Economics, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.John B. Davis is Professor of Economics, Marquette University, USA, and Professor of Economics, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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Back Cover

In this updated second edition of Economic Methodology, the authors bring together a wealth of research and teaching experience. While explaining the principles of economic methodology, they also contextualize it within the broader philosophy of science tradition.Economic Methodology: explores the status and character of economics as a social science, from when economic methodology gained formal recognition in the 1980s until today discusses the influence of the philosophy of science, particularly the reaction against logical positivism as exemplified by Popper, Kuhn, and Lakatos* provides material for reflection throughout the book, including 'So what?' and 'Focus' sections, which discuss related practices or themesAimed at students coming to the subject for the first time, this concise, accessible textbook will help undergraduate and postgraduate students gain a thorough understanding of economics as a science.

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More on this Book

Explores the status and character of economics as a social science and introduces students to wider philosophical issues underlying modern science.

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Product Details

Publisher
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC | Red Globe Press
Published
3rd November 2015
Edition
2nd
Pages
248
ISBN
9781137545558

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