The Epistemological Break in Economics: What Does the Public Know About the Economy and What Do Economists Know About the Public?

Erwin Dekker, Pavel Kuchar
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引用次数: 3

Abstract

Economics is characterized by an epistemological break: a discontinuity, between everyday and scientific understandings. An extensive empirical literature proves the so-called economic ignorance of the public. This has created a disdain for the public among economists and provided an argument for more influence of experts. We demonstrate that this empirical literature privileges scientific economic knowledge over other types of economics knowledge, and thus merely proves the existence of the epistemological break. In its place we argue for the simultaneous existence of different types of economic knowledge, held by economic actors (the public) and economists (the experts). Economics should seek convergence between these bodies of knowledge, through translation efforts. We demonstrate that Wicksteed and Ostrom have tried this and suggest further constructive steps following Boltanski’s work in sociology. We argue that economics without an epistemological break has the potential to improve economics education, and mutual understanding between economists and the public.
经济学的认识论突破:公众对经济了解多少?经济学家对公众了解多少?
经济学的特点是认识论上的断裂:日常理解和科学理解之间的不连续性。大量的实证文献证明了所谓的公众经济无知。这造成了经济学家对公众的蔑视,并为专家发挥更大的影响力提供了理由。我们证明,这种实证文献将科学经济学知识置于其他类型的经济学知识之上,从而仅仅证明了认识论断裂的存在。取而代之的是,我们主张由经济行为者(公众)和经济学家(专家)持有的不同类型的经济知识同时存在。经济学应该通过翻译努力寻求这些知识体系之间的融合。我们证明Wicksteed和Ostrom已经尝试了这一点,并建议在Boltanski的社会学工作之后采取进一步的建设性步骤。我们认为,没有认识论突破的经济学有可能改善经济学教育,以及经济学家与公众之间的相互理解。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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