Ecomomics as an Empirical Science
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Abstract
The author seeks an answer to a complex question whether and on what conditions economy may be considered an empirical science. In the first part, basic epistemological and methodological issues along with the problems of rhetorical nature encountered by economists are discussed. In the next part peculiarities of economics are explored, in particular limited possibility of experimenting, uncertainty and generality of forecasts, how research and publication of results influence an object of research and the linkages between economics and human interests. Finally the future directions for economic research are debated, especially, the possible potential of experimental economics and observation, as well as whether and to what extent results of a research can be predicted.
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How to Cite
Czarny, B. (2010). Ecomomics as an Empirical Science. Warsaw Forum of Economic Sociology, 1(2), 7–34. Retrieved from https://econjournals.sgh.waw.pl/wfes/article/view/435
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References
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Samuelson, P.A., Nordhaus, W.D. (1989), Economics. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Schumpeter, J.A. (1954), History of Economic Analysis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Skousen, M. (1997), The Perseverance of Paul Samuelsons Economics, Journal of Economic Perspectives 11 (2): 137-152.
Stalin, J. (1949), Historia WKP(b). Krótki kurs. Warszawa: KiW.
Stalin, J. (1952), Ekonomiczeskije probliemy socyalizma w SSSR, Bolszewik 18.
Sugden, R. (2005), Introduction. Experiment, Theory, World: A Symposium on the Role of Experiments in Economics, Journal of Economic Methodology 12 (2): 177-184.
Tobin, J. (1956), The Interest Elasticity of Transactions Demand for Cash, Review of Economics and Statistics 38 (3): 241-247.
Varian, H.R. (1992), What use is economic theory?, in: dAutume, A., Cartelier J. (eds.), Is Economics Becoming a Hard Science? Edward Elgar Publishing Limited:Cheltenham, UK; Brookfield Vt.
Weber, M. (1922), Protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus, in: Weber, M. (1973), Gesammelte Aufsätze zur Religionssoziologie. Tübingen: C.H. Mohr.
Weiss, J. (1975), Max Webers Grundlegung der Soziologie. Eine Einführung. München: Verlag Dokumentation.
Woll, A. (2003), Allgemeine Volkswirtschaft slehre. Műnchen: Vahlen.
Baumol, W. (1952), The Transactions Demand for Cash: An Inventory Theoretic Approach, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 66, 4: 545-556.
Beed, C., Beed, C. (2000), The Status of Economics As a Naturalistic Social Science, Cambridge Journal of Economics 4 (4): 417-435.
Blaug, M. (1992), Methodology of Economics, Cambridge.
Blaug, M. (1998), The Problems with Formalism. Interview with Mark Blaug, Challenge 41 (3): 35-45.
Borowski, M. (2007), W oczekiwaniu na czarną owcę, Gazeta Wyborcza, August 22.
Caldwell, B.J. (1982), Beyond Positivism. Economic Methodology in the Twentieth Century. London: Allen & Unwin.
Canterberry, E.R., Burkhardt, R.J. (1983), What Do We Mean by Asking Whether Economics is a Science?, in: Eichner, A.P., Sharpe, M.E. (eds.), Why Economics Is Not Yet a Science? New York: Armonk.
Czarny, B. (1989), Dyskusja o racjonalności gospodarowania w polskiej literaturze ekonomicznej po II wojnie światowej, Warszawa: SGH (unpublished Ph.D. thesis).
Czarny, B. (1990), Max Weber o racjonalizacji działań ludzkich, Studia Socjologiczne 3-4: 5-24.
Czarny, B., Rapacki, R. (2002), Podstawy ekonomii, Warszawa: Wyd. Nauk. PWE.
Czarny, B. (2004), Pozytywizm i falsyfikacjonizm a sądy wartościujące w ekonomii. Warszawa: Of. Wyd. SGH.
Czarny, B. (2007), Recenzja książki Benjamina Balak, McCloskeys Rhetoric. Discourse Ethics in Economics, Zeszyty Naukowe Szkoła Główna Handlowa, Kolegium Gospodarki Światowej, Warszawa: Of. Wyd. SGH: 54-59.
Dornbusch, R., Fischer, P., Startz, R. (2003), Macroeconomics, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Ellerman, D., Stiglitz, J. (2003), New Bridges Across the Chasm: Macro and In-situational Strategies for Transitional Economies, in: Harris, J.M., Goodwin, N.R. (eds.), New Thinking in Macro-economics. Cheltenham: Edwar Elgar.
Friedman, M. (1953), On the Methodology of Positive Economics, in: Essays in Positive Economics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Hands, D.W. (1992), Falsif cation, Situational Analysis and Scientific Research Programs: The Popperian Tradition In Economic Methodology, in: de Marchi, N. (ed.), Post-Popperian Methodology of Economics: Recovering Practice. Boston: Kluwer.
Hausman, D. (ed.) (1994), The Philosophy of Economics: An Anthology, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Heilbroner, R. L. (1973), Economics as a "Value-Free" Science, Social Research, 40 (1): 129-143.
Hoff , K., Stiglitz, J. (2002), After the Big Bang: Obstacles to the Emergence of the Rule of Law in Post-Communist Societies, Columbia University Discussion Paper Series. Department of Economics.
Hussain, A., Stern, N., Stiglitz, J. (2000), Chinese Reforms from a Comparative Perspective, in: Hammond, P. J., Myles, G.D. (eds.), Incentives, Organization, and Public Economics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hutchison, T. W. (1964), Positive Economics and Policy Objectives, London.
Leontief, W. (1982), Academic Economics, in: Marr, W. L. , Raj, B. , How Economists Explain, A Reader in Methodology. Lanham: University Press of America.
Lucas, R.E. (1973), Some International Evidence on Output-Inflation Tradeoff s, American Economic Review 63 (3): 326-334.
Mankiw, N.G. (1995), The Growth of Nations, Brookings Papers on Economic Activity 1: 275-310.
Mayer, T. (1993), Truth versus Precision in Economicp. Hands: Aldershot.
McCloskey, D. (1985), The Rhetoric of Economics. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
Minc, B. (1980), Ekonomia polityczna socjalizmu, Warszawa: PWN.
Nagel, E. (1961), The Structure of Science. Problems in the Logic of Scientific Ex-planation, London
Nowak, P. (1985) Metodologia badań społecznych. Warszawa: PWN.
O'Brien, D.P. (1992), Economists and Data, British Journal of Industrial Relations 30: 253-285.
Osiatyński, J. (1984), Przypisy i dodatki, in: Kalecki, M., Dzieła, t. 4. Warszawa: PWN.
Oswald, A.J. (1991), Surveys in Economics, Vol. 1, 2, Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
Roberts, P.C. (2002), My Time with Soviet Economics, The Independent Review 7 (2): 259-264.
Samuelson, P.A., Nordhaus, W.D. (1989), Economics. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Schumpeter, J.A. (1954), History of Economic Analysis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Skousen, M. (1997), The Perseverance of Paul Samuelsons Economics, Journal of Economic Perspectives 11 (2): 137-152.
Stalin, J. (1949), Historia WKP(b). Krótki kurs. Warszawa: KiW.
Stalin, J. (1952), Ekonomiczeskije probliemy socyalizma w SSSR, Bolszewik 18.
Sugden, R. (2005), Introduction. Experiment, Theory, World: A Symposium on the Role of Experiments in Economics, Journal of Economic Methodology 12 (2): 177-184.
Tobin, J. (1956), The Interest Elasticity of Transactions Demand for Cash, Review of Economics and Statistics 38 (3): 241-247.
Varian, H.R. (1992), What use is economic theory?, in: dAutume, A., Cartelier J. (eds.), Is Economics Becoming a Hard Science? Edward Elgar Publishing Limited:Cheltenham, UK; Brookfield Vt.
Weber, M. (1922), Protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus, in: Weber, M. (1973), Gesammelte Aufsätze zur Religionssoziologie. Tübingen: C.H. Mohr.
Weiss, J. (1975), Max Webers Grundlegung der Soziologie. Eine Einführung. München: Verlag Dokumentation.
Woll, A. (2003), Allgemeine Volkswirtschaft slehre. Műnchen: Vahlen.