Why is economics so fragile?

The association between a crisis in economics and the economic crisis, spontaneously drawn by the media and the public, is a fact which calls for explanation. We begin by identifying what the public and the media perceive as “economics”. This is not economics in its plurality but a synthesis of new-...

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Main Authors: José Castro Caldas, Vítor Neves, José Reis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association Recherche & Régulation 2011-06-01
Series:Revue de la Régulation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/regulation/9244
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author José Castro Caldas
Vítor Neves
José Reis
author_facet José Castro Caldas
Vítor Neves
José Reis
author_sort José Castro Caldas
collection DOAJ
description The association between a crisis in economics and the economic crisis, spontaneously drawn by the media and the public, is a fact which calls for explanation. We begin by identifying what the public and the media perceive as “economics”. This is not economics in its plurality but a synthesis of new-Keynesian and new classical theory which emerged in the US during the 1980s. Such a synthesis is often presented as anchored in principles which establish the appropriate mode of economic reasoning. By reviewing what these principles state and what they conceal, we argue that this understanding of “Modern Economic Theory” leaves a number of traditions of economic thought out of economics or economic science which, although neglected and marginalized, still exist within economics departments. We then question whether the public and the media might be justified in attributing the blame for the economic crisis to the particular type of economics taken as representative of the profession and of academia. Finally we address the prospect of a (more) robust and prudent economics, which would have to be anchored in a solid understanding of institutions, institutional configurations, and their variety and dynamics.
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spelling doaj-art-4dc933b823d245d7b2d09152282239182025-01-30T14:26:21ZengAssociation Recherche & RégulationRevue de la Régulation1957-77962011-06-01910.4000/regulation.9244Why is economics so fragile?José Castro CaldasVítor NevesJosé ReisThe association between a crisis in economics and the economic crisis, spontaneously drawn by the media and the public, is a fact which calls for explanation. We begin by identifying what the public and the media perceive as “economics”. This is not economics in its plurality but a synthesis of new-Keynesian and new classical theory which emerged in the US during the 1980s. Such a synthesis is often presented as anchored in principles which establish the appropriate mode of economic reasoning. By reviewing what these principles state and what they conceal, we argue that this understanding of “Modern Economic Theory” leaves a number of traditions of economic thought out of economics or economic science which, although neglected and marginalized, still exist within economics departments. We then question whether the public and the media might be justified in attributing the blame for the economic crisis to the particular type of economics taken as representative of the profession and of academia. Finally we address the prospect of a (more) robust and prudent economics, which would have to be anchored in a solid understanding of institutions, institutional configurations, and their variety and dynamics.https://journals.openedition.org/regulation/9244Economic crisiscrisis in economicspolitical economyinstitutionalism
spellingShingle José Castro Caldas
Vítor Neves
José Reis
Why is economics so fragile?
Revue de la Régulation
Economic crisis
crisis in economics
political economy
institutionalism
title Why is economics so fragile?
title_full Why is economics so fragile?
title_fullStr Why is economics so fragile?
title_full_unstemmed Why is economics so fragile?
title_short Why is economics so fragile?
title_sort why is economics so fragile
topic Economic crisis
crisis in economics
political economy
institutionalism
url https://journals.openedition.org/regulation/9244
work_keys_str_mv AT josecastrocaldas whyiseconomicssofragile
AT vitorneves whyiseconomicssofragile
AT josereis whyiseconomicssofragile