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Intricacies Of Agency: Rational Choice, Behavioral Economics, And Our Normative Commitments, Max Hendrix
Intricacies Of Agency: Rational Choice, Behavioral Economics, And Our Normative Commitments, Max Hendrix
Fenwick Scholar Program
This project undertakes a philosophical analysis of the intricacies of agency found in rational choice theory - the mainstream economic theory that agents are fundamentally rational and utilize their rationality to identify and pursue their self-interest. Recent experimental evidence within and outside of economics has cast doubt on the psychological accuracy and predictive prowess of the theory, laying the foundation to discuss the strengths and limitations of the theory as well as the impacts that this paradigm of agency has on our society today. I argue that rational choice theory struggles as a holistic conception of agency both from an …
Economic Leapovers, William Hunter Wolf
Economic Leapovers, William Hunter Wolf
Honors Theses
This paper examines the phenomenon of economic leapovers in technology. Leapovers are defined and placed in historical context, with some examples from telecommunications and case settings from Russia and China. In particular, the socioeconomic factors behind leapovers are noted and analyzed in light of several classical economic doctrines of Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Thomas Malthus, and Karl Marx. The potential for other leapovers is also examined in an extension.
The Value Of Presuppositions Of Economic Theory, Tom R. De Gregori
The Value Of Presuppositions Of Economic Theory, Tom R. De Gregori
Economics ETDs
Every area of inquiry is replete with presuppositions unconsciously assented to by the vast majority of those practicing the discipline. Economic value theory is not an exception to this general rule. The problem facing economists is to ferret out these preconceptions and subject them to scientific analysis. To do this we must first understand what is meant by a preconception and the way these preconceptions affect our analysis. The Newtonian presuppositions are of special importance to us since they form the foundation of classical economics. We must therefore demonstrate the social origins of Newtonianism and trace their development through classical …