Search results for ""Author Daniel J. D'Amico""

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), as an interdisciplinary endeavour, has surged in popularity in recent years. Work in this field usually draws on standard microeconomics to grapple with questions from political philosophy. But what might Austrian economics, which offers an alternative approach to economic theory, have to offer to this endeavour? Featuring contributions by economists, philosophers, political scientists, and political theorists both friendly to and critical of Austrian ideas, this collection explores what, if anything, Austrian assumptions about human nature and the function of social institutions have to offer the broader field of PPE. The authors explore the relationship of F.A. Hayek’s thought to contemporary analysis of democracy, the importance of entrepreneurship for institutional analysis, the possibility and perils of self-governance, and whether Austrian ideas can better explain real-world institutional developments.

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The modern school of Austrian economics took shape in the 1970s, and reflects the social science questions of its time. Is it still relevant today, considering that the theories that drive contemporary social science have evolved dramatically over the past few decades? While Austrian concerns such as property rights and imperfect cognition have become more common, other aspects of the Austrian thought are even more idiosyncratic than ever. In the ten chapters included here, leading economists explore whether Austrian economics still has unique insights to offer the world of today. Starting with Peter Boettke’s lead essay, “What is Wrong with Austrian Economics?”, chapters include an array of perspectives responding to this question, ranging from economics, to intellectual history, to political science, and to philosophy. At the end of the volume, Boettke offers a rejoinder, asking, “What is Right About Austrian Economics?” Together, these essays explore the barriers to the spread of Austrian ideas, ask which disciplines might be receptive to them, examine the role of ideology and funding in helping and hindering the school, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of different strategies for expanding engagement with other scholars.

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Austrian economics is known for extensive—and many economists would say excessive—ruminations on methodology. Attempting to steer a middle course between radical forms of historicism (there are no economic laws) and scientism (economic laws are as precise as physical laws), this approach often appears to diminish the importance of empirical testing and quantitative methods more generally. Since the Austrian revival of the 1970’s, social scientists have developed a number of new theoretical and empirical approaches to studying the social world. Experimental and behavioral economics have exploded in popularity. Econometrics has arguably taken a more central role in the discipline than even formal economic theory. And, most prominently, econometricians have developed quasi-experimental techniques for examining real-world data as part of the “credibility revolution.” This volume, Contemporary Methods and Austrian Economics, examines the relationship between Austrian economics and these new social scientific methods. Do Austrian critiques of the excessive ambitions of formal theory and empirical measurement still hold water (if they ever did)? Do the findings of these new approaches bolster or undermine distinctively Austrian theories? How should we update our views on the relationship between abstract economic theory and empirical investigations?

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Austrian Economics: The Next Generation brings together emerging and established scholars to explore the insights that can be gleaned from applying Austrian economics to a range of different topics. Spanning a variety of related disciplines, from history to politics to public policy, this collection explores a wide range of topics and how they relate to key Austrian themes. How has Austrian economics evolved over the past 40 years? What is the relationship between history and economic theory? How does the Austrian school of economics compare to other evolutionary schools of economic thought? What can public choice theory take from the concept of emergent order? What role does departmental culture play in enabling or deterring police misconduct? How do the multiple forces shaping the evolution of economic inequality interact with one another? What are the limitations of evidence-based policy? To what extent do regulatory agencies recognize key Austrian insights? How does the platform economy affect the possibilities for regulation of traditional utilities? What can a defense of market institutions rooted in market process theory learn from virtue ethics? Is a classical liberal limited state best situated to cope with the darker side of human nature, or might conservatism or social democracy perform better? This collection explores each of these topics in detail, providing fresh takes on a wide range of important topics.

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