The individual and the market: Paul Samuelson on (homothetic) Santa Claus economics.

Paul Samuelson often used the term “Santa Claus economics” for mathematical models with empirically unrealistic assumptions. I focus on one particular member of the Santa Claus family that Samuelson was very sceptical about: homothetic general equilibrium models (where all agents have identical homo...

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Publicado en:European Journal of the History of Economic Thought Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 425 - 453
Autor principal: Hands, D.W.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jun2016
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: The individual and the market: Paul Samuelson on (homothetic) Santa Claus economics.
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        au: Hands, D.W.
      su:
        Samuelson, Paul A. (Paul Anthony), 1915-2009
        Economics -- Terminology
        Mathematical economics
        Neoclassical school of economics
        Economic equilibrium
      sug:
        subj:
          Samuelson, Paul A. (Paul Anthony), 1915-2009
          Economics -- Terminology
          Mathematical economics
          Neoclassical school of economics
          Economic equilibrium
      keyword:
        demand theory
        neoclassical synthesis
        Paul Samuelson
        representative agent
      ab: Paul Samuelson often used the term “Santa Claus economics” for mathematical models with empirically unrealistic assumptions. I focus on one particular member of the Santa Claus family that Samuelson was very sceptical about: homothetic general equilibrium models (where all agents have identical homothetic preferences). I argue that Samuelson's concerns about these models provide insights into how he viewed the relationship between the individual and the market, a relationship that has implications for not only his economic theorising, but also his broader political–economic vision. His criticisms are also relevant to some ongoing debates within contemporary economic theory.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
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    language: English
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