Economics as an Imperialist Social Science

Peter J. Buckley and Mark Casson

Chapter 1 in International Business, 1998, pp 3-23 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract Economic theorists are by nature system-builders. Successful system-building in the social sciences requires fearless simplification. Any theoretical system that corresponds too closely to complex social reality will be too complicated to be of any use. But simplification invites criticism, for there is always something of potential importance that gets left out of a theoretical system. The system-builders need their critics, both to remind them of their system’s limitations, and to suggest ideas for improvement. For system-builders are proud of their constructions, and tend to place too much confidence in them.

Keywords: Utility Function; Transaction Cost; Preference Interdependence; Specific Assumption; Theoretical System (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1998
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DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-26416-2_1

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