In recent years certain leading figures in the world of economics have called the usefulness of general equilibrium theory into question. This superb new book brings together leading economic theorists with important contributions to the ongoing debate. General equilibrium theorists including Michio Morishima, Michael Magill and Martine Quinzii debate strengths, weaknesses and possible futures with leading thinkers such as Herb Gintis, Pierangelo Garegnani and Duncan Foley, who seek to explain the rejection of general equilibrium. Uniquely, none of the contributors portray general equilibrium theory as the perfect guide to market economies actual behaviour, but rather illustrate that there is insufficient acquaintance with existing alternatives and that general equilibrium theory is often used as an ideal 'benchmark'.

In recent years certain leading figures in the world of economics have called the usefulness of general equilibrium theory into question. This superb new book brings together leading economic theorists with important contributions to the ongoing debate.
General equilibrium theorists including Michio Morishima, Michael Magill and Martine Quinzii debate strengths, weaknesses and possible futures with leading thinkers such as Herb Gintis, Pierangelo Garegnani and Duncan Foley, who seek to explain the rejection of general equilibrium. Uniquely, none of the contributors portray general equilibrium theory as the perfect guide to market economies actual behaviour, but rather illustrate that there is insufficient acquaintance with existing alternatives and that general equilibrium theory is often used as an ideal 'benchmark'.


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This collection offers a stimulating and insightful overview of the main issues affecting long-term economic growth. The novelty of this book is that it brings together two strands of economic literature, growth and development theories. The communication between different approaches is crucial as it is increasingly understood that growth hinges upon institutional and policy aspects that are generally neglected in the stylized models of growth but highly relevant for developing countries. Government policies and institution design become central to the explanation of divergent growth paths.

This collection offers a stimulating and insightful overview of the main issues affecting long-term economic growth. The novelty of this book is that it brings together two strands of economic literature, growth and development theories. The communication between different approaches is crucial as it is increasingly understood that growth hinges upon institutional and policy aspects that are generally neglected in the stylized models of growth but highly relevant for developing countries. Government policies and institution design become central to the explanation of divergent growth paths.

The virtues and failings of market economies are at present widely debated and the outcome of the debate is of practical importance. This book contains essays that address these issues of economic policy ranging from privatisation of industry and financial markets to education and the proposal for an internal market in the health service. Apart from two theoretical pieces, particular markets, and proposals for creating such markets, are studied. The contributors are distinguished specialists in their field of economics and their analysis offers important lessons for social and political philosophy and will generate considerable interest.

The virtues and failings of market economies are at present widely debated and the outcome of the debate is of practical importance. This book contains essays that address these issues of economic policy ranging from privatization of industry and financial markets to education and the proposal for an internal market in the health service. Apart from two general theoretical pieces, particular markets, and proposals for creating such markets, are studied.

The connection between economics and ethics is as old as economics itself, and central to both disciplines. It is an issue that has recently attracted much interest from economists and philosophers. The connection is, in part, a result of the desire of economists to make policy prescriptions, which clearly require some normative criteria. More deeply, much economic theory is founded on the assumption of utility maximization, thereby creating an immediate connection between the foundations of economics and the philosophical literature on utilitarianism and reasons for action. In fact, some influential contemporary approaches to ethics advocate decision-theoretic or game-theoretic foundations of some sort for moral principles, while several economic theorists are now prepared to take into account the ethical dimensions of rational decisions. As a result, it appears that economics and ethics are somehow inextricably linked through theories of rational decision-making. This book, the outcome of a joint workshop of economists and philosophers, offers an overview of the current academic debate on the connections between economics and ethics, ranging through three main themes: the moral standing of utilitarianism, the notion of fairness and equity and its formal treatment, and the coherence and scope of the rationality postulate underlying standard models of economic behaviour. In particular, the essays included in the volume provide a detailed analysis of disclosed contradictions and possible convergences between the prescriptions of rationality and the requirements of moral 'rightness', as viewed from several different, sometimes conflicting, perspectives. While the book points mainly to theneed for a more rigorous appraisal of the moral underpinnings of economic discourse, it also highlights the open-ended nature of ethical reasoning. There is much that economists, and especially welfare economists, can learn from these papers - not least circumspection.

Perhaps the largest problem facing the world at the turn of the millennium is the increasing gap between developed and developing world. Labour, Poverty, and Development provides rigorous economic analysis with the necessary theoretical underpinnings, detailing the causes, effects, and implications of the current situation in the developing world. Bringing together some of the world's foremost experts on development, the volume concentrates on three main areas: the relationship between employment, growth, and trade; the growth of urban labour; and the position in rural areas. Throughout, the emphasis is on the links between the `macro' and the `micro': the wider trends and the functionings of the narrower markets.