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on History and Philosophy of Economics |
| By: | André Tiran (Triangle : action, discours, pensée politique et économique - [CNRS : UMR5206][IEP LYON] - [Université Lumière - Lyon II] - [Ecole Normale Supérieure Lettres et Sciences Humaines]) |
| Abstract: | Les écrits de Say se distinguent par le grand intérêt qu'il porte aux conséquences morales du comportement économique. La loi des débouchés structure de vastes parties du Traité. Cette note montre que c'est en critiquant Smith que Say formule ce qui va devenir la loi des débouchés. Le processus de production-distribution est en dernière analyse pour Say un échange mutuel de services productifs : "le coût des produits n'est autre que la valeur des services productifs consommés dans la production et leur valeur n'est rien d'autre que la valeur des marchandises produites " par ces mêmes services. Le véritable moteur de la production est celui des besoins illimités, face à des moyens de production existant en quantité limitée. Les Economistes se sont emparés de cette idée et en ont fait un des principes fondamentaux de leur doctrine. L'échange de deux produits est au fait l'échange de leurs services productifs ; les quantités demandées et offertes ne sont donc en dernière analyse, que des quantités de services productifs". Pour Say, le premier et le dernier terme de l'échange, ce sont les produits, et non la monnaie. Le but de la production est la satisfacti on des besoins, la consommation.Say plaide aussi pour une politique d'encouragement du travail qui inclue même des programmes d'activité gouvernementaux pour lutter contre le chômage du fait de la mécanisation. |
| Keywords: | Loi des débouchés, Valeur, Loi de say, chômage |
| Date: | 2007–02–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:hal-00132278_v1&r=hpe |
| By: | Danièle Demoustier; Damien Rousselière (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Economie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - [CNRS : FRE2664] - [Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II]) |
| Abstract: | Dans les années 1830-1850, prenant acte du mouvement général de la société moderne et de la nécessité de l'orienter vers le progrès social, les théoriciens de l'économie sociale (ou de la science sociale) d'inspiration saint simonienne proposent une critique du fonctionnement de leur société, basée sur une réflexion sur les fondements de l'économie politique. Leur critique commune la plus virulente s'adresse à la concurrence qui "transforme tout bienfait en son contraire" ; ils lui opposent des formes diverses d'association ouvrière, notamment dans la production ; la coopération du travail devant supprimer les rigueurs de la concurrence sur le marché du travail et sur le marché du capital. Ces auteurs développent néanmoins, entre eux, des points de vue divergents sur la place de ces associations sur le marché des produits, selon la confiance plus ou moins grande dans les capacités de la morale (individuelle et collective, selon Buchez et Ott) à réguler les rapports entre associations, ou la méfiance vis-à-vis de l'égoïsme humain (qui nécessite une instance supérieure de décision et de régulation selon L. Blanc). Pour les premiers, il convient de limiter la concurrence, en respectant la liberté sur le marché ; pour le second, c'est la concurrence elle-même qu'il convient de remettre en cause par "un système d'alliances", c'est-à-dire par des mesures politiques. |
| Keywords: | économie sociale ; économie politique ; association ; concurrence ; marché ; régulation ; histoire économique ; pensée économique ; France |
| Date: | 2007–02–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00129184_v1&r=hpe |
| By: | Danièle Demoustier; Damien Rousselière (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Economie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - [CNRS : FRE2664] - [Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II]) |
| Abstract: | This article aims to investigate the multiple meanings of "économie sociale" ("social economy"), a term which first appeared in France at the founding moment of modern capitalism, both as a concept in the framework for the creation of a social science in close relation with the tradition of classical, Christian and socialist economists, and also to establish an ensemble of social practices and institutions. A historical perspective shows the close yet ambivalent relationship between these two principal connotations. Stemming from this, the conclusion presents some new research orientations towards social economy as a social science and social practice. |
| Keywords: | social economy ; social science ; France |
| Date: | 2007–02–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00130667_v1&r=hpe |
| By: | Ai-Thu Dang (MATISSE - Modélisation Appliquée, Trajectoires Institutionnelles et Stratégies Socio-Économiques - [CNRS : UMR8595] - [Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - Paris I]); Pierre-André Mangolte (CEPN - Centre d'économie de l'Université de Paris Nord - [CNRS : UMR7115] - [Université Paris-Nord - Paris XIII]) |
| Abstract: | L'objectif de ce texte est, d'une part, de proposer une façon de lever la dualité ou contradiction mise en évidence par de nombreux commentateurs dans la théorie hayékienne de l'évolution et, d'autre part, de souligner les difficultés rencontrées par Hayek dans sa tentative d'endogénéiser la formation des règles constitutives de l'ordre spontané. L'évolutionnisme n'est ainsi pas une explication pertinente de la transformation des ordres sociaux. Nous concluons ensuite sur l'actualité théorique de la conception hayékienne de l'action humaine comme gouvernée par des "schèmes abstraits". |
| Keywords: | Hayek; ordre spontané; évolutionnisme; selection; social rules |
| Date: | 2007–02–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:hal-00129404_v1&r=hpe |
| By: | Alex Coad (Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne) |
| Abstract: | Complicated neoclassical models predict that if investment is sensitive to current financial performance, this is a sign that something is "wrong" and is to be regarded as a problem for policy. Evolutionary theory, on the other hand, refers to the principle of "growth of the fitter" to explain investment-cash flow sensitives as the workings of a healthy economy. In particular, I attack the neoclassical assumption of managers maximizing shareholder-value. Such an assumption is not a helpful starting point for empirical studies into firm growth. One caricature of neoclassical theory could be "Assume firms are perfectly efficient. Why aren't they getting enough funding ?", whereas evolutionary theory considers that firms are forever struggling to grow. This essay highlights how policy guidelines can be framed by the initial modelling assumptions, even though these latter are often chosen with analytical tractability in mind rather than realism. |
| Keywords: | Financial constraints, firm growth, evolutionary theory, neoclassical theory, investment. |
| JEL: | L21 G30 |
| Date: | 2007–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mse:cesdoc:r07008&r=hpe |
| By: | Saab, Samer |
| Abstract: | This paper mainly examines the economic ideas and models brought forward by the always controversial global financier George Soros. The aim is to first explore whether in fact Soros has developed over time a well- articulated model for development based on a coherent system of beliefs and (economic, social, political, and philosophical) ideas, and second examine the notion that the world's wealthiest (including Soros) wield enough power and influence (through philanthropy and other means) to shape the economic landscape of countries. The latter point poses a more problematic question: if indeed the world's wealthiest wield unlimited powers in shaping the global development landscape, it could then be assumed that the quality of their "ideas" does not matter much. How do the resources they control ultimately facilitate the transformation of their beliefs and practices into valid economic "ideas"? Do wealth, power and influence validate ideas? The flip side to this coin is that time (hopefully) eventually weeds out the bad ideas, and only the good ones prevail and propagate in the world, and that the Soros's of the world do not matter much in the long run. A lot has been said and written about Soros's controversial financial dealings but very few attempted to systematically explore his system of ideas and evalua te their cohesiveness. He is too often dismissed as a philosophe manqué. The paper will briefly review the written works of Soros and his publicly stated positions on some of the more significant issues in development and economics today, and at times offer a light critique or praise) where due. A parallel with Keynes on some of the issues is also drawn. The paper will also offer insight on the question of whether philanthropy is conducive to the germination (and, most importantly, diffusion) of ideas. |
| Keywords: | economic development; philanthropy; Soros |
| JEL: | O1 P0 |
| Date: | 2005–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:1878&r=hpe |
| By: | Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) |
| Abstract: | Expectations and information about the growth of GDP per capita have a large influence on decisions made by private and public economic agents. It will be argued here that GDP (per capita) is far from a robust indicator of social welfare, and that its use as such must be regarded as a serious form of market and government failure. This article presents an update on the most important criticisms of GDP as an indicator of social welfare and economic progress. It further examines the nature and extent of the impact of GDP information on the economy, revisits the customary arguments in favour of the GDP indicator, and critically evaluates proposed alternatives to GDP. The main conclusion is that it is rational to dismiss GDP as an indicator to monitor economic progress and to guide public policy. As is clarified, this conclusion does not imply a plea against growth, innovation or national accounting. |
| Keywords: | Distribution; externalities; genuine savings; happiness; HDI; informal sector; ISEW; status goods |
| JEL: | D31 D63 E01 I31 O15 |
| Date: | 2007–02–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:uvatin:20070019&r=hpe |
| By: | Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) |
| Abstract: | Evolutionary and environmental economics have a potentially close relationship. This paper reviews past and identifies potential applications of evolutionary concepts and methods to environmental economics. This covers a number of themes: resource use and ecosystem management; growth and environmental resources; economic and evolutionary progress; and individual behavior and environmental policy. The treatment will cover both biological and economic – including institutional, organizational and technological – evolutionary phenomena. Attention will be drawn to the fact that evolutionary economics shows a surprising neglect of environmental and natural resource factors. |
| Keywords: | Coevolution; economic growth; environmental policy; innovation; progress; self-regulation; renewable resources; resilience; social preferences |
| JEL: | B52 O3 O4 Q2 Q5 |
| Date: | 2007–02–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:uvatin:20070018&r=hpe |
| By: | David G. Blanchflower; Andrew J. Oswald |
| Abstract: | A modern statistical literature argues that countries such as Denmark are particularly happy while nations like East Germany are not. Are such claims credible? The paper explores this by building on two ideas. The first is that psychological well-being and high blood-pressure are thought by clinicians to be inversely correlated. The second is that blood-pressure problems can be reported more objectively than mental well-being. Using data on 16 countries, the paper finds that happier nations report lower levels of hypertension. The paper's results are consistent with, and seem to offer a step towards the validation of, cross-national estimates of well-being. |
| JEL: | I10 |
| Date: | 2007–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:12934&r=hpe |