Economics as a science -or viewed from the perspective of scientists in other fields

Joaquim Vergés-Jaime

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: The aim of this article is to underline that the core paradigm of mainstream economics, the economics’ standard model (ESM), rests upon an explanatory theory that draws on deductive assumptions which are not supported by what observations of the reality of market economies show us; either in the present day or historically. A theoretical setting, therefore, that fails to provide a proper explanation of how our economic system –a market economy based on private firms, or capitalist– operates in reality. Or that it does not explain it well for the vast majority of cases, goods, sectors or markets. Something which, moreover, I am far from being the first one to highlight. That ‘deficiency’ of the ESM has relevant implications. It is something more than a pure theoretical issue. The fact that this explanatory model (much dominated by microeconomics) postulates that the ‘free-play market’ leads spontaneously to an optimum of social utility (a general equilibrium of efficient markets), has nevertheless implications beyond the economic discipline. In the political arena, neoliberalism draws on this theoretical postulate to defend its principles of no (or minimum) intervention by governments in the economy, and of no (or minimum) regulation of markets. I. e., to defend what lies behind the well-known expression ‘the less State the better’: minimum public expenditure, minimum taxes. And, furthermore, this general equilibrium model that supports such a postulate dominates the way economics is customary taught, i.e., how the workings of a market economy is explained in textbooks and in university classrooms.

Keywords: Economics epistemology; Mainstream economics; Economics’ explanatory role; Scientific method; General Equilibrium model; Empirical testing of assumptions; Reality-based Economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A11 A13 A20 B20 B40 D01 D20 D50 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-02, Revised 2020-04
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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Published in CADMUS 2.4(2020): pp. 247-257

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