The role of belief in the debate over austerity policies

Sheila Dow

No PKWP1409, Working Papers from Post Keynesian Economics Society (PKES)

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to argue that awareness of the epistemological issues arising from an open-system ontology is critical to understanding the crisis and the policy response, to challenging that understanding and to encouraging a radical policy shift. The argument is couched in terms of belief as an epistemological concept. In particular the paper addresses the misleading impression, persuasively conveyed by mainstream economists, that their argument for austerity is ‘scientific’ and independent of ideology, power and ethics. The resulting widespread belief in austerity policies as scientifically justified has prevented arguments against austerity gaining more traction. The critique of austerity policies would therefore be strengthened by a critique of this rhetorical (mis)representation of economic theorising.

Keywords: Fiscal austerity; science; belief (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B40 E10 E62 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 30
Date: 2014-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hme, nep-hpe, nep-mac and nep-pke
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pke:wpaper:pkwp1409

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