بررسی تطبیقی مکتب های ساختارگرایی اقتصادی

A Comparative Study of Structural Schools in the Development Economics

Seyed hossein Mirjalili

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: This article conducts a comparative examination of the main schools of economic structuralism: old structuralism, ECLAC neo-structuralism, and New Structural Economics. Methodologically, old structuralism is grounded in the analysis of macroeconomic structures and the internal constraints of accumulation processes in peripheral economies, recommending active state intervention to reform production and trade structures as the basis of development policy. In contrast, ECLAC neo-structuralism, by critiquing the static and dogmatic tendencies of old structuralism, adopts a dynamic and hybrid approach that highlights the interaction between domestic structures and the global economic order, while emphasizing the institutional and technological dimensions of competitiveness in the world economy. At the policy level, this approach stresses the alignment of development strategies with external constraints and internal capacities of each country. New Structural Economics, drawing on modern development economics and integrating the structuralists’ tradition with neoclassical insights, underscores the connection between dynamic comparative advantage, smart industrial policies, and the establishment of institutional and infrastructural foundations for structural transformation. Through a comparative-analytical perspective, this study elucidates the methodological bases of all three structuralist schools in relation to their policy implications and shows that the evolution of structuralism can be understood as a transition from a static and interventionist paradigm toward a dynamic, institution-based, and context-sensitive framework in development policy. The findings indicate that understanding the trajectory of structuralism is not only crucial for theoretical rethinking in development economics but also constitutes a methodological and practical necessity for designing effective policies in developing economies—particularly in addressing the challenges of globalization, structural dependency, and industrial transition.

Keywords: Economic Structuralism; Neo-structuralism; New Structural Economics; Development Economics. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B4 O11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-02-07, Revised 2025-06-13
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Published in Development Studies 4.1(2025): pp. 163-176

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