The Sraffian Methodenstreit and the revolution in economic theory

Nuno Martins

Cambridge Journal of Economics, 2019, vol. 43, issue 2, 507-525

Abstract: Here I address several questions raised by Ajit Sinha’s book A Revolution in Economic Theory: The Economics of Piero Sraffa. I focus on the contribution brought by the book, and the way in which it is positioned against other contributions, especially in what concerns the methodology presupposed in Sraffa’s contribution, within what can be termed a Sraffian Methodenstreit, given the role of theory and history in the controversies surrounding Sraffian analysis. In so doing, I address the geometrical approach advanced by Sraffa, which is emphasised by Sinha in his critique of interpretations of Sraffa drawing on the notion of equilibrium. I also address the connections between Sraffa and Ludwig Wittgenstein, which are discussed by Sinha, taking into special consideration what Wittgenstein saw as Sraffa’s ethnological or anthropological approach, and its implications for the use of Sraffa’s methodology in economics.

Keywords: Methodology; Geometry; Time; History; Theory; Gravitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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