The primacy of economics: an explanation of the comparative success of economics in the social sciences: Western Economic Association International 1996 presidential address.

The text of the Western Economic Association International 1996 presidential address is presented. The writer discusses the reasons for the comparative success of economics in relation to the other social sciences. He argues that the source of the success of economics lies in the particular charac...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Economic Inquiry Vol. 35; pp. 1 - 12
Autor principal: Demsetz, Harold
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell January 1997
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The text of the Western Economic Association International 1996 presidential address is presented. The writer discusses the reasons for the comparative success of economics in relation to the other social sciences. He argues that the source of the success of economics lies in the particular characteristics of the search for an understanding and an evaluation of resource allocation in a complex, decentralized system. He offers explanations as to why the other social sciences do not seem to have progressed as much within their traditional boundaries as economics has within its own, and he suggests that the broad scope of phenomena that can be explained by economic tools indicates the possibility of unifying the social sciences in an economics-led hegemony.