Lawrence A. Boland Livres

The updated edition offers significant revisions from the original, making it a valuable resource for economists and thinkers in the field. It presents fresh insights and perspectives, showcasing Boland's return to contribute to contemporary economic discussions.

Should we accept the principles of neo-classical economics? This work attempts to develop effective critiques of neo-classical economics and it is primarily directed towards the neo-classical economist. The focus of the critiques are the foundations of neo-classical theory, beginning with those Alfred Marshall identified as the Principles of Economics, paramount amongst which is the assumption of maximizing behaviour. Lawrence Boland highlights the problems of effective model building without this assumption and argues that critics might be better rewarded if they concentrated on Marshall's other key principle, the Principle of Continuity.

Containing twenty essays, most of which are previously unpublished or extensively revised, the book discusses Friedman's famous essay on methodology, the role of the assumption of maximization in neoclassical economics, the limitations of traditional economic methodology, the possibilities for more fruitful methodological criticism, and Karl Popper's theory of science. Throughout, the essays emphasize the positive role of criticism as a central part of intellectual activity.

Focusing on the practices and challenges encountered by model builders, this book delves into the modeling process and emphasizes the importance of testing models. It provides insights into both the theoretical and practical aspects of model building, making it a valuable resource for those interested in understanding the intricacies of creating and validating models.

Focusing on the necessity of methodological individualism in microeconomics, this work critiques neoclassical models for their lack of explicit stability analysis. Lawrence Boland argues that many advanced theoretical developments in the past three decades are merely ad hoc solutions to the shortcomings of these models. By emphasizing the importance of stability analysis, the book seeks to enhance the understanding and development of microeconomic theory.

Focusing on the intersection of economic modeling and philosophy, this work delves into how economists utilize Karl Popper's ideas, particularly the concept of falsifiability. Boland's extensive research over two decades highlights the methodological debates surrounding the validity of models in both natural and social sciences, offering insights into the truth status of these models. The book provides a critical examination that bridges economic theory with philosophical inquiry, enriching the understanding of model building in economics.

First published in 1986, this title argues that the successful development of a new microeconomics requires a deeper understanding of methodological individualism and its role in stability analysis. Lawrence Boland expounds a critique of neoclassical models, which, he contends, often fail to include an explicit stability analysis. He demonstrates that much of the sophisticated theoretical literature over the past thirty years can be understood as ad hoc attempts to overcome the deficiencies of such models in the absence of cogent stability analyses. In conclusion, he explains the need to update the theory taught at universities, and to develop a truly individualist version of microeconomics that is consistent with the methodological principles of major neoclassical models. An important contribution to economic methodology, this work is a highly valuable resource for all students and teachers of economics at the undergraduate level.