PERONA BEATRIZ EUGENIA
Congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Complexity and heterodox economics: anything in common?
Lugar:
Buenos Aires
Reunión:
Jornada; X Jornadas en Epistemología de las Ciencias Económicas; 2004
Institución organizadora:
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Resumen:
?Complexity economics? is becoming a popular area within the discipline. However, a careful reflection on the economic literature on complexity reveals various prima facie problematic features, including the unclear status of complexity economics as an orthodox/heterodox project. In effect, in recent years, a few economists coming from various heterodox traditions ? including the austrian, evolutionary and critical realist schools, among others ? appear to be sympathetic to (when not plainly excited by) the new developments in complexity economics.
This paper is a brief methodological reflection on the nature of complexity economics with respect to this problematic feature. In particular, it is argued that complexity theory and heterodox economics represent fundamentally different responses to the failures and/or limitations observed in traditional (neoclassical) theory. On the one hand, complexity theory is an epistemological response centred on the ?complexification? of models being thus closer to the mainstream approach; on the other hand, heterodox economics is an ontological response, emphasising the complex nature of the actual economy.
Which are then the factors explaining the apparent interest of a (growing) number of heterodox economists in complexity ideas? In this paper, two main reasons are identified: first, the fact that not all members of heterodoxy are actually aware of their commitment to an ontology-based programme, and second, the relative lack of concern of heterodox studies with epistemological elaboration.
This paper is a brief methodological reflection on the nature of complexity economics with respect to this problematic feature. In particular, it is argued that complexity theory and heterodox economics represent fundamentally different responses to the failures and/or limitations observed in traditional (neoclassical) theory. On the one hand, complexity theory is an epistemological response centred on the ?complexification? of models being thus closer to the mainstream approach; on the other hand, heterodox economics is an ontological response, emphasising the complex nature of the actual economy.
Which are then the factors explaining the apparent interest of a (growing) number of heterodox economists in complexity ideas? In this paper, two main reasons are identified: first, the fact that not all members of heterodoxy are actually aware of their commitment to an ontology-based programme, and second, the relative lack of concern of heterodox studies with epistemological elaboration.
