Economic Theory

Name: Economic Theory
Author: Marcel Alfons Gilbert van Meerhaeghe

A Critic’s Companion

Specificaties

Paperback, 126 blz. | Engels

Springer Netherlands | 0e druk, 2011

ISBN13: 9789400987760

Rubricering

Springer Netherlands 0e druk, 2011 9789400987760

60,99

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Samenvatting

In preparing the eighth edition of my Handboek van de Economie (an earlier edition has been translated into English, Economics a critical approach), the contents have been divided into two parts. Whereas the flrst part deals with economic theory as such, the present publication contains the subject matter of the second part, namely, the critical comments on various economic theories. Here I have taken into consideration the opinions expressed in reviews of the aforementioned book and by several colleagues. While some indicated that 'The "appraisal" sections cater for the sceptical intelligent student' (C.D. Harbury, Economica, August 1972), other teachers judge that 'students who demand "relevance" from their studies are not likely to last long with a book which follows each point by a note stating that it is really pretty useless' (J. R. S. Revell, The Economic Journal, September 1972). This book has no intentions of instructing fellow economists. It is intended as a complement to an introductory course on economics, which for the most part does not deal systematically with (or is even totally lacking in) critical comments. This also explains why a survey of the main trends in economic doctrine are found in the Appendix. Many economists consider any criticism of economic theory to be a form of v PREFACE vi Zese-majeste. On the other hand, a critical approach should not be the monopoly of Marxist or gauchist authors.

Specificaties

ISBN13:9789400987760

Taal:Engels

Bindwijze:paperback

Aantal pagina's:126

Uitgever:Springer Netherlands

Druk:0

Hoofdrubriek:Economie, Algemeen management

Inhoudsopgave

1 Introduction.- 1. Terminology.- 2. Originality.- 3. Ideology.- 2 The theory of the consumer’s behaviour.- 1. Gossen’s ‘laws’.- 2. The indifference curves.- 3. The influence of the other consumers.- 4. Demand.- 5. Consumption and saving.- 6. Conclusion.- 3 The theory of producer’s behaviour.- 1. Substitutability and complementarity of production factors.- 2. The optimum combination of factors for a given level of output.- 3. Optimum level of production.- 4. Supply and revenue.- 5. The investment decision.- 6. Conclusion.- 4 The theory of pricing.- 1. Marginalism.- 2. Corporate objectives.- 3. Instruments of corporate policy.- a. Price.- b. Quality.- c. Sales promotion.- d. Distribution.- e. Product range.- 4. Price interdependence.- 5. The ‘laws’ of supply and demand.- 6. Conclusion.- 5 The theory of income distribution.- 1. The labour market.- a. Unions and the wage level.- b. Wage differentials.- 2. The market for loanable funds.- 3. Conclusion.- 6 The theory of the general level of national income and of prices.- 1. Monetary equilibrium and the level of national income.- a. The investment multiplier.- b. The accelerator.- c. The interaction.- 2. Inflation.- 3. The transactions equation and the quantity theory.- a. The transactions equation of exchange.- b. The quantity theory.- 4. The cash-balance theory.- 5. Conclusion.- 7 The theory of economic growth.- 1. The Harrod-Domar theory.- 2. The neoclassical theory.- 3. W. Rostow’s theory.- 4. The factors of economic growth.- a. Population.- b. Natural conditions.- c. Capital.- d. Education.- e. Technological advance.- 5. Conclusion.- 8 The theory of international trade.- 1. The theory of comparative cost.- 2. The Heckscher-Ohlin theory.- 3. Trade and economic growth.- 4. The theory of purchasing-power parity.- 5. The theory of balance-of-payments equilibrium.- 6. Conclusion.- 9 The limited practicability of the theory.- 1. Isolation from other sciences.- 2. Unrealistic hypotheses.- a. Testing and falsifying.- b. Nonoperational concepts.- 3. Mathematization of economics.- 4. Conclusion.- 10 The significance of economic theory.- 1. Determinism.- 2. Predictability.- 3. Theory or method?.- 4. Conclusion.- Appendix Economic Doctrines.- 1. Ancient and Medieval times.- 2. Mercantilism.- 3. Physiocracy.- 4. The classical school.- 5. The historical school.- 6. Socialism.- 7. The Austrian school and the Lausanne school.- 8. Neoclassicism and the Swedish school.- 9. Institutionalism.- 10. The Keynesian ‘revolution’ 104.- 11. J.A. Schumpeter.- 12. Neo-Marxism.- 13. Neoliberalism.- Endnotes.