Doing Economic Research: Essays on the Applied Methodology of Economics (Economists of the Twentieth Century)

This volume argues that methodologists should pay more attention to the day-to-day problems that practising economists face. Bridging the gap between the abstract work of most methodologists and the problems that concern other economists, this collection of essays illustrates how simple methodological considerations can clarify a series of issues in applied economics. In particular, the author offers a defence of positivism in economics and counters Rosenberg's argument that economics is not an empirical science. Specific essays reassess debates about microfoundations and Ricardian equivalence, consider whether assumptions should be realistic, question whether recent improvements in techniques have helped to resolve the monetarist debate, discuss the role of consumer theory and deal with some key issues in econometric practice.