Edward Elgar Publishing Theories and Models in Economics: An Empirical Approach to Methodology

This innovative book uses in-depth empirical studies of scientific articles and takes inspiration from Nobel laureates to explore how theories and models are used in economics. Hans Lind ultimately illustrates that economics studies a ‘chaos-theoretic’ system where a theory is a framework that helps formulate hypotheses rather than a set of statements about how an economy works. Based on these empirical studies Lind analyses different kinds of path-breaking contributions in economics and why these developments do not fit Kuhn´s theory of progress in science. Through the close analysis of scientific articles, chapters also discuss why analysis of a simple model can help us understand how the real economy works and how a new idea becomes accepted through everyday observations, the building of models and empirical studies. He argues that it is crucial to use a range of methods, including case studies and mathematical models, to help identify causes and patterns in a science that studies a chaos-theoretic system. Written in an accessible style, Theories and Models in Economics will prove a vital resource for scholars looking for a greater understanding of both the methodology and the development of economics. It will appeal to practitioners and social scientists more broadly who are interested in learning more about how economists conduct their research and how this differs from other disciplines.