Buchanan's catallactic critique of Robbins' definition of economics

Alain Marciano ()

Journal of Economic Methodology, 2009, vol. 16, issue 2, pages 125-138

Abstract: In 1964, Buchanan wrote an article in which he criticized the definition of economics given by Robbins in his Essay on the Nature and Significance of Economic Science. This article is remarkable because it represents Buchanan's attempts to redefine economics, that is, not only to propose his own definition but also to attack the standard, Robbins, definition of the discipline. More precisely, Buchanan thus offers a catallactic criticism of Robbins' definition. The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss Buchanan's criticism and to show how he organizes the presentation of his own definition.

Keywords: Buchanan; Robbins; choice; exchange; definition of economics; catallactics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009

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