David Colander and Craig Freedman
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- May 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780691179209
- eISBN:
- 9780691184050
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691179209.003.0009
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Business History
This concluding chapter argues that Classical Liberal methodology is defined more by an attitude than it is by a particular methodological approach. That attitude blends a deep-seated skepticism of ...
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This concluding chapter argues that Classical Liberal methodology is defined more by an attitude than it is by a particular methodological approach. That attitude blends a deep-seated skepticism of mainstream theory—often manifested by heterodox economists—with an appreciation of the gains that have been made by mainstream theory, an appreciation generally lacking among heterodox critics. A Classical Liberal attitude would also display a mutual respect for the methods that have evolved in mainstream and non-mainstream traditions to handle theoretical problems. The chapter then presents six economists who displayed a Classical Liberal attitude to methodology in important aspects of their work: Edward Leamer, Ariel Rubinstein, Alvin Roth, Paul Romer, Amartya Sen, and Dani Rodrik.Less
This concluding chapter argues that Classical Liberal methodology is defined more by an attitude than it is by a particular methodological approach. That attitude blends a deep-seated skepticism of mainstream theory—often manifested by heterodox economists—with an appreciation of the gains that have been made by mainstream theory, an appreciation generally lacking among heterodox critics. A Classical Liberal attitude would also display a mutual respect for the methods that have evolved in mainstream and non-mainstream traditions to handle theoretical problems. The chapter then presents six economists who displayed a Classical Liberal attitude to methodology in important aspects of their work: Edward Leamer, Ariel Rubinstein, Alvin Roth, Paul Romer, Amartya Sen, and Dani Rodrik.
