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DescriptionThe Assumptions Economists Make  Jonathan Schlefer | 2012 | 376 Pages | PDF | ISBN-13: 978-0674052260 | 1.18 MB Description: Economists make confident assertions in op-ed columns and on cable news—so why are their explanations often at odds with equally confident assertions from other economists? And why are all economic predictions so rarely borne out? Harnessing his frustration with these contradictions, Jonathan Schlefer set out to investigate how economists arrive at their opinions. While economists cloak their views in the aura of science, what they actually do is make assumptions about the world, use those assumptions to build imaginary economies (known as models), and from those models generate conclusions. Their models can be useful or dangerous, and it is surprisingly difficult to tell which is which. Schlefer arms us with an understanding of rival assumptions and models reaching back to Adam Smith and forward to cutting-edge theorists today. Although abstract, mathematical thinking characterizes economists’ work, Schlefer reminds us that economists are unavoidably human. They fall prey to fads and enthusiasms and subscribe to ideologies that shape their assumptions, sometimes in problematic ways. Schlefer takes up current controversies such as income inequality and the financial crisis, for which he holds economists in large part accountable. Although theorists won international acclaim for creating models that demonstrated the inherent instability of markets, ostensibly practical economists ignored those accepted theories and instead relied on their blind faith in the invisible hand of unregulated enterprise. Schlefer explains how the politics of economics allowed them to do so. The Assumptions Economists Make renders the behavior of economists much more comprehensible, if not less irrational. Reviews: "The Assumptions Economists Make is a marvelous piece of political economy. Jonathan Schlefer ably contrasts the two main approaches to macroeconomics--neoclassical and classical/Keynesian--and on social, historical, and political grounds strongly endorses the latter." --Lance Taylor, author of Maynard's Revenge: The Collapse of Free Market Macroeconomics "Fascinating...[Schlefer's] book is a tough critique of economics, but a deeply informed and sympathetic one." --Justin Fox Harvard Business Review blog "This book is an impressive and informative analysis of the economics literature--and it presents some useful insights about how a more eclectic, catholic approach might allow economics to progress more convincingly into the future." --Michelle Baddeley Times Higher Education "The Assumptions Economists Make is a valuable book for readers who like to argue, reflect, and advance knowledge." --A. R. Sanderson Choice "The Assumptions Economists make [is] a knowledgeable...broadside against neoclassical economics...Schlefer's gripes concern model-building run amok...His criticisms of these models are original and sophisticated." --Christopher Caldwell Literary Review About the Author/s: Jonathan Schlefer holds a Ph.D. in political science from MIT and is the author of Palace Politics: How the Ruling Party Brought Crisis to Mexico, as well as articles for The Atlantic and other publications. He is currently a research associate at Harvard Business School. Check out my other books: =O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O= No Password or Surveys. Guaranteed!!! Please seed the torrent if you want to Help :) =O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O=O= Sharing Widget |
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