Text

FOUNDATIONS OF ECONOMICS THOUGHT

---

A very cursory glance at the literature of economics reveals that econom- ists are much more comfortable when manipulating models than when examining the foundations of the subject. The typical journal article begins by making an appeal to various authorities for the adoption of a frame- work, or set of assumptions, before quickly getting down to the business of 'cranking the handle', or investigating minor variations as part of a taxo- nomic analysis. This statement is intended to be descriptive rather than critical; indeed, this type of activity is a necessary and very important part of the research process. But, without doubt, it is occasionally useful to pause in order to assay the value and significance of research programmes. Such an examination of basics can really only come after a great deal of preliminary work has been carried out; paradoxical though it may appear, it is not usually feasible to begin with the foundations.

The same process is true of the teaching of economics. Only after students have had some exposure to, and experience in handling, some simple models and techniques of analysis, and have familiarity with the special language used in the subject, can the fundamentals be tackled. Any attempt to begin with first principles generally leads to confusion, created by the need to deal with difficult conceptual issues without a clear context. But good students inevitably reach a stage where they need to 'go back to the beginning' and attempt to place what they have learnt into a clearer perspective.

---

Availability

10000621

330 CRE f

RLC MM (Rak Buku Umum)

Available

Detail Information

Series Title

-

Statement of Responsibility

John Creedy

Call Number

330 CRE f

Publisher

Oxford : Blackwell Publishing., 1990

Collation

xiii, 406 p. : ill ; 23cm.

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

0-631-15642-9

Classification

330

Content Type

-

Edition

-

Subject(s)

Buku Umum
Economics
Social Sciences

Specific Detail Info

-

Other version/related

File Attachment

Comments

---

You must be logged in to post a comment