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on Heterodox Microeconomics |
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Issue of 2025–09–29
thirteen papers chosen by Carlo D’Ippoliti, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” |
| By: | Susanna Azevedo (Department of Sociology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria); Theresa Hager (Socio-Ecological Transformation Lab, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria; Institute for Comprehensive Analysis of the Economy, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria); Laura Porak (Socio-Ecological Transformation Lab, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria; Institute for Comprehensive Analysis of the Economy, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria) |
| Abstract: | Competition structures contemporary societies as an omnipresent organizing principle yet is often understood as a neutral technical mechanism. This paper develops a theoretical framework on competition as a social institution structured by explicit and implicit rules that systematically reproduce power relations under the guise of fair selection. While explicit rules govern formal processes and are accessible to all participants, implicit rules remain concealed yet fundamentally determine competitive practices and outcomes. These rule types are distinguished by the 'border of what can be said (and done)'. Through three empirical competitive formats examining housing markets, EU policymaking, and global development, we demonstrate how this distinction illuminates the mechanisms through which competition legitimizes social inequalities. Our framework bridges theoretical approaches while accounting for competition's variability and ambiguity. By rendering implicit rules visible and contestable, this analysis challenges neoliberal instrumentalization and reveals competition's deep entanglement with power relations in modern capitalist societies. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ico:wpaper:167 |
| By: | Katarzyna Sznajd-Weron; Barbara Kamińska |
| Abstract: | Pluralistic ignorance is a puzzling social psychological phenomenon in which the majority of group members privately reject a norm yet mistakenly believe that most others accept it. Consequently, they publicly comply with the norm. This phenomenon has significant implications for politics, economics, and organizational dynamics because it can mask widespread support for change and hinder collective responses to large-scale societal challenges. The aim of this work is to demonstrate how agent-based modeling, a computational approach well-suited for studying complex social systems, can be applied to investigate pluralistic ignorance. Rather than providing a systematic literature review, we focus on several models, including our own two models based on the psychological Social Response Context Model, as well as two other representative models: one of the first and most influential computational models of self-enforcing norms, and a model of opinion expression based on a silence game. For all of these models, we provide custom NetLogo implementations, publicly available at https://barbarakaminska.github.io/NetLogo-Pluralistic-ignorance/, which allow users not only to run their own simulations but also to follow the algorithms step by step. In conclusion, we note that despite differences in assumptions and structures, these models consistently reproduce pluralistic ignorance, suggesting that it may be a robust emergent phenomenon. |
| Keywords: | Pluralistic ignorance; Social Response Context Model; Collective adaptation; Opinion dynamics; Agent-based modeling; NetLogo; Complex systems |
| JEL: | C63 D72 D91 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ahh:wpaper:worms2508 |
| By: | Marco Pangallo; Daniele Giachini; Andrea Vandin |
| Abstract: | Agent-based models (ABMs) are gaining increasing traction in several domains, due to their ability to represent complex systems that are not easily expressible with classical mathematical models. This expressivity and richness come at a cost: ABMs can typically be analyzed only through simulation, making their analysis challenging. Specifically, when studying the output of ABMs, the analyst is often confronted with practical questions such as: (i) how many independent replications should be run? (ii) how many initial time steps should be discarded as a warm-up? (iii) after the warm-up, how long should the model run? (iv) what are the right parameter values? Analysts usually resort to rules of thumb and experimentation, which lack statistical rigor. This is mainly because addressing these points takes time, and analysts prefer to spend their limited time improving the model. In this paper, we propose a methodology, drawing on the field of Statistical Model Checking, to automate the process and provide guarantees of statistical rigor for ABMs written in NetLogo, one of the most popular ABM platforms. We discuss MultiVeStA, a tool that dramatically reduces the time and human intervention needed to run statistically rigorous checks on ABM outputs, and introduce its integration with NetLogo. Using two ABMs from the NetLogo library, we showcase MultiVeStA's analysis capabilities for NetLogo ABMs, as well as a novel application to statistically rigorous calibration. Our tool-chain makes it immediate to perform statistical checks with NetLogo models, promoting more rigorous and reliable analyses of ABM outputs. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2509.10977 |
| By: | Étienne Fakaba Sissoko (Université des sciences sociales et de gestion de Bamako - USSGB - Université des sciences sociales et de gestion de Bamako) |
| Abstract: | This article introduces and theorizes the original concept of sacrofemininity as an epistemological and political paradigm that breaks with the limitations of dominant models of equality, empowerment, and emancipation. Rooted in African cosmologies, feminine spiritualities, and relational ontologies, the concept advocates for an ontological and civilizational revalorization of the feminine as a foundational matrix. At the crossroads of decolonial epistemologies, traditions of care, and symbolic sovereignties, sacrofemininity proposes a reconfiguration of meaning, institutions, and practices in postcolonial contexts. The article explores its theoretical foundations, practical implications, embodied figures, and critical controversies through an explicitly intersectional lens. |
| Abstract: | Cet article introduit et théorise le concept original de sacroféminité comme paradigme épistémologique et politique de rupture face aux impasses des modèles dominants d'égalité, d'empowerment et d'émancipation. Ancré dans les cosmologies africaines, les spiritualités féminines et les ontologies relationnelles, le concept défend une revalorisation ontologique et civilisationnelle du féminin comme matrice fondatrice. À la croisée des épistémologies décoloniales, des traditions de soin et des souverainetés symboliques, la sacroféminité propose une refondation du sens, des institutions et des pratiques en contexte postcolonial. L'article en explore les fondements théoriques, les implications concrètes, les figures incarnées et les controverses critiques, dans une perspective intersectionnelle assumée. |
| Keywords: | Cosmologies africaines, Ontologie relationnelle, Décolonisation., Justice symbolique, Sacroféminité, Décolonisation B54, I31, Decolonization. JEL Codes: B54, Relational Ontology, African Cosmologies, Symbolic Justice, Sacred Feminine, I31 Sacrofemininity, O55, Z13, J16, Féminin sacré, Sacroféminité Féminin sacré Justice symbolique Cosmologies africaines Ontologie relationnelle Décolonisation B54 J16 Z13 O55 I31 Sacrofemininity Sacred Feminine Symbolic Justice African Cosmologies Relational Ontology Decolonization. JEL Codes: B54 J16 Z13 O55 I31 |
| Date: | 2025–08–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05212238 |
| By: | Alexandre Chirat (Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, CRESE UR3190, F-25000 Besançon, France); Basile Clerc (Université Paris Nanterre, EconomiX, UMR 7235, F-92000 Nanterre, France) |
| Abstract: | Drawing on the historical analogy with War Economy, this article investigates the concept of a “Climate War Economy” (CWE) to address the medium run macroeconomic imbalances inherent in the green transition. We argue that, as in war economies, the green transition is likely to generate a structural disequilibrium between constrained supply and rising demand, leading to medium-run inflationary pressures. This article uses the CWE analogy to open a broader discussion on the economic and political relevance of revisiting the macroeconomic stabilization tools deployed during World War II. It first examines how, in response to wartime constraints, governments suspended market mechanisms through price and quantity controls. Then, it explores the parallels with today’s green transition. By tracing the reasoning behind these interventions, the article shows how this historical experience can inform climate policy-makers and enriched ecological macroeconomics. Finally, the paper addresses the limitations of the war economy analogy, while arguing that price and quantity controls can be used to manage the macroeconomic imbalances of the green transition without undermining liberal democratic principles. |
| Keywords: | Green Transition, Inflation, Price control, War Economy, Planning |
| JEL: | Q54 P11 B00 N00 |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:crb:wpaper:2025-10 |
| By: | Cigna, Luca; Di Carlo, Donato; Durazzi, Niccolò |
| Abstract: | The green transition is fundamentally transforming contemporary economies and societies. This article investigates how European models of capitalism perform and specialize across the green value chain—conceptualized as innovation, manufacturing, services, and deployment—and how national skill formation systems underpin these specializations. Integrating insights from comparative capitalism literatures with descriptive statistics and principal component analysis (PCA), we develop and test expectations about growth regime‐specific patterns of green specialization and skill profiles. Our findings reveal marked cross‐national variation between green leaders and laggards: Nordic economies characterized by dynamic services and continental manufacturing‐based models are frontrunners in the green transition, while Eastern Europe's FDI‐led regimes and Southern Europe's demand‐led regimes emerge as laggards. Furthermore, PCA results uncover two distinct decarbonization pathways among European green leaders: one group of countries (Austria, Finland, Germany) specializes in green manufacturing, supported by high shares of STEM graduates; another (Denmark, Switzerland, and to a lesser extent Norway and Sweden) focuses on green innovation and dynamic services, sustained by a strong supply of STEM doctorates. This article contributes to political economy debates on the green transition by identifying distinct green specializations and decarbonization pathways across European models of capitalism and by underscoring the growing centrality of high‐level STEM skills in the green transition. |
| Keywords: | growth regimes; skill formation; global value chains; green transition; comparative political economy |
| JEL: | N0 R14 J01 |
| Date: | 2025–09–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:129591 |
| By: | Nomane Chafi (FSJES TANGER - faculté des sciences juridiques economiques et sociales de Tanger); Abderrahman Saddiki; R’ghioui Noman |
| Abstract: | In a context shaped by the accelerating digitalization of markets and the rapid advancement of technologies, artificial intelligence is emerging as a strategic lever for rethinking marketing approaches. This study adopts an exploratory perspective to assess the impact of AI on marketing strategies within the social and solidarity economy. It examines the transformations driven by AI in segmentation, targeting, personalization, and campaign automation. While large corporations have the technical means to capitalize on these innovations, SSE organizations often struggle to adopt them due to structural, financial, and organizational constraints. Based on a literature review and emerging use cases, the research proposes a conceptual cooperative for integrating AI into marketing strategies in ways that are ethical, inclusive, and tailored to the specificities of the SSE sector. The findings indicate that successful integration relies as much on technology as on capacity building, targeted support mechanisms, and cooperation between public and private actors, paving the way for a sustainable and equitable digital transformation. |
| Abstract: | Dans un contexte marqué par la digitalisation croissante des marchés et l'évolution rapide des technologies, l'intelligence artificielle s'impose comme un levier stratégique pour repenser les approches marketing des organisations. Cet article s'inscrit dans une perspective exploratoire visant à analyser l'impact de l'IA sur les stratégies marketing, notamment dans le cadre de l'économie sociale et solidaire. Elle met en lumière les transformations induites par l'intégration de l'IA dans les pratiques de segmentation, de ciblage, de personnalisation et d'automatisation des campagnes. Si les grandes entreprises disposent déjà de moyens techniques pour tirer profit de ces innovations, les structures de l'ESS, telles que les coopératives, peinent à s'approprier ces outils en raison de contraintes structurelles, financières et organisationnelles. À travers une revue de la littérature et des cas d'usage émergents, cette étude propose un cadre conceptuel pour intégrer l'IA dans les stratégies marketing de manière éthique, inclusive et adaptée aux spécificités du secteur solidaire. Les résultats montrent que le succès de cette intégration dépend autant des technologies que du renforcement des compétences, de dispositifs d'accompagnement ciblés et de la coopération entre acteurs publics et privés, ouvrant la voie à une transformation numérique durable et équitable |
| Keywords: | Digital marketing, Marketing Strategy, Artificial Intelligence, Marketing digital cooperative, stratégie marketing, Intelligence artificielle, coopérative |
| Date: | 2025–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05221047 |
| By: | Andr\'es L. Su\'arez-Cetrulo; Alejandro Cervantes; David Quintana |
| Abstract: | Financial markets are complex, non-stationary systems where the underlying data distributions can shift over time, a phenomenon known as regime changes, as well as concept drift in the machine learning literature. These shifts, often triggered by major economic events, pose a significant challenge for traditional statistical and machine learning models. A fundamental problem in developing and validating adaptive algorithms is the lack of a ground truth in real-world financial data, making it difficult to evaluate a model's ability to detect and recover from these drifts. This paper addresses this challenge by introducing a novel framework, named ProteuS, for generating semi-synthetic financial time series with pre-defined structural breaks. Our methodology involves fitting ARMA-GARCH models to real-world ETF data to capture distinct market regimes, and then simulating realistic, gradual, and abrupt transitions between them. The resulting datasets, which include a comprehensive set of technical indicators, provide a controlled environment with a known ground truth of regime changes. An analysis of the generated data confirms the complexity of the task, revealing significant overlap between the different market states. We aim to provide the research community with a tool for the rigorous evaluation of concept drift detection and adaptation mechanisms, paving the way for more robust financial forecasting models. |
| Date: | 2025–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2509.11844 |
| By: | Foster, Dugald; Postma, Erik; Lamba, Shakti; Mesoudi, Alex (University of Exeter) |
| Abstract: | Explaining how cooperation evolves is a major research programme in the biological and social sciences. In this study we tested evolutionary theories of human cooperation in a real-world social dilemma: joint liability microfinance, in which groups of borrowers must cooperate to successfully repay a shared loan. We used pre-registered Bayesian multilevel models to estimate meta-analytic associations between loan repayment and proxies of four evolutionary mechanisms proposed to support cooperation: relatedness, reciprocity, partner choice, and punishment. A systematic search of the microfinance literature yielded 73 effect estimates for 11 proxies of evolutionary mechanisms analysed in 11 separate meta-analyses. Punishment-based variables showed the strongest positive meta-analytic associations with loan repayment, with mixed results for other mechanisms. However, estimates varied widely in their certainty, with generally high levels of between-study heterogeneity. Our results provide some evidence for evolutionary mechanisms supporting cooperation in real-world contexts, but also indicate there are non-generalisable findings and/or reproducibility issues in the microfinance literature. |
| Date: | 2025–09–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:ykfhb_v1 |
| By: | Jihyuan Liuh |
| Abstract: | Building on the classical Okishio theorem, we construct a two-sector, multi-period dynamic model that relaxes the rigid assumption of a fixed real wage and introduces an endogenous wage-growth mechanism together with a process of technology diffusion. Through analytical derivations and numerical simulations we find that the long-run trajectory of the profit rate is not unique: it hinges on the relative strength of the speed of wage adjustment and the potency of technical progress. (1) When wage adjustment is relatively sluggish, the technical effect dominates and the profit rate trends upward. (2) When wage adjustment proceeds at a moderate pace, the profit rate first rises and then falls. (3) When wage adjustment is extremely rapid, the wage effect dominates and the profit rate declines continuously. The results offer a new theoretical lens on the intricate interplay among technical change, wage dynamics and profitability. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2509.11538 |
| By: | Goyal, Meghna; Hickel, Jason; Jha, Praveen |
| Abstract: | Agri-food systems are increasingly globalised. In the last three decades, as national food systems have become more interdependent, the distribution of productive activities and economic value between different actors and countries has changed. Prior research on domestic agri-food value chains has shown that the farm share of food-system income has declined consistently, while post-farmgate sectors capture the majority of income. Market concentration in post-farmgate sectors is high in industrialised economies and is driving food-system transformations in developing economies. Here, we extend this analysis to assess the global distributional consequences of food-system transformations for the first time. We use multi-regional input-output data to disaggregate food expenditures between different countries and sectors across agri-food value chains, from 1995 to 2020. We arrive at several main findings: 1) agricultural production for food and industrial inputs has increasingly shifted to the global South, 2) global food-system income is increasingly captured by post-farm activities in the global North, and 3) a substantial share of food-system income is captured in low-tax jurisdictions with low agricultural production. These findings demonstrate that the contemporary agri-food system and agricultural trade are skewing the distribution of economic returns away from agricultural producers in the global South. |
| Keywords: | value chain; food systems; distribution; agriculture; unequal exchange |
| JEL: | J1 |
| Date: | 2025–09–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:129466 |
| By: | Rotondi, Valentina (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Italian Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | Care is foundational to human development and economic resilience, yet remains largely invisible in economic theory and policy. This paper presents a formal model in which support for redistributive care policies depends on three belief channels: the perceived publicness of care, its productivity, and its prosocial value. The model shows that public coordination reduces variance in received care, increasing the likelihood that vulnerability becomes productive. Empirically, we combine two approaches. First, we analyze World Values Survey data from 25 countries (2017–2022), linking individual attitudes to a novel folktale-based index that captures the cultural salience of care-related virtues versus harm-related vices. Countries scoring higher on this index show greater support for redistributive care; civic participation also plays an independent role. Second, an incentivized framing experiment in Italy reveals that framing care as a private responsibility reduces donations to a pooled care fund by 6–8 percentage points. Together, these findings suggest that institutions and shared narratives jointly shape attitudes toward care. Recognizing care as social infrastructure—and designing time regimes and services that foster trust—may be key to building resilient and inclusive economies. |
| Date: | 2025–09–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:p579d_v1 |
| By: | Andersen, Ditte |
| Abstract: | As part of Acta Sociologica’s special issue on ‘Social investment in Action’ we bring an interview with Professor Elizabeth Popp Berman (EPB), author of the widely acclaimed Thinking like an Economist – How Efficiency Replaced Equality in US Public Policy (Princeton University Press, 2022) . Interviewer, Ditte Andersen (DA), probes Berman’s argument on how the economic style of reasoning is linked to specific values, especially the value of efficiency, in ways that crowd out other values (e.g. democratic participation, universal rights) and constrain social policy thinking in contemporary Western societies. Social investment policies epitomize the economic style of reasoning by orientating towards returns of public spending. In policy domains such as education, ‘social investment in action’ forefronts the value of returns (in the future) rather than, for example, the value of equality and universalism (in the present). The interview also turns attention to the role of sociologists in denaturalizing the taken for granted and aid the imagination of alternative futures. |
| Date: | 2025–09–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:j38dt_v1 |