David Colander has been writing about economic methodology for over 30 years. His pragmatic approach sees applied policy methodology as rooted in what economists actually do, not in what methodologists say they should do. It sees applied policy methodology as constantly evolving as analytic and computational technology changes, evolving far too fast to be subject to any rigid scientific methodology. That problem is that economists generally think of applied policy analysis as applied science. Colander argues that using a scientific methodology to guide applied policy undermines good policy analysis. Instead, he contends that economists should use a much looser engineering methodology that blends science, heuristics, inescapable moral judgments, and creativity into what he calls the art and craft of economics. Here, Huei-chun Su has selected seventeen of Colander's articles that spell out and capture his arguments at various levels - some formal academic articles dealing with cutting edge methodology, and some more popular articles making the case for his approach. An original introduction and annotated bibliography serve as excellent resources for further exploring his arguments. Clear, well-structured, and written in plain English with little jargon, the book is approachable and suitable for anyone interested in the current and future state of economics and the economics profession. This includes students at any level as well as methodologists, applied economists, historians and critics of modern economics.

David Colander has been writing about economic methodology for over 30 years. His pragmatic approach sees applied policy methodology as rooted in what economists actually do, not in what methodologists say they should do. It sees applied policy methodology as constantly evolving as analytic and computational technology changes, evolving far too fast to be subject to any rigid scientific methodology. That problem is that economists generally think of applied policy analysis as applied science. Colander argues that using a scientific methodology to guide applied policy undermines good policy analysis. Instead, he contends that economists should use a much looser engineering methodology that blends science, heuristics, inescapable moral judgments, and creativity into what he calls the art and craft of economics. Here, Huei-chun Su has selected seventeen of Colander's articles that spell out and capture his arguments at various levels - some formal academic articles dealing with cutting edge methodology, and some more popular articles making the case for his approach. An original introduction and annotated bibliography serve as excellent resources for further exploring his arguments. Clear, well-structured, and written in plain English with little jargon, the book is approachable and suitable for anyone interested in the current and future state of economics and the economics profession. This includes students at any level as well as methodologists, applied economists, historians and critics of modern economics.

Social Science: An Introduction to the Study of Society 16e approaches social science from a common-sense perspective, rather than from a conventional social science angle. Readers will see how seemingly diverse disciplines intermingle - anthropology and economics, for example. The goal of the book is to teach students critical thought and problem solving skills that will allow them to approach social issues in an unbiased manner. New to this edition are significant updates on: Race and the police More comparison/contrasts of deviance and criminality Alternative pathways in criminal justice new technology such as self-driving cars Gay marriage American political dynasties Refugee and immigration issues in Europe & globally American political dynasties China's growing power New trade initiatives "States" in the Middle East Nuclear arms control Expanded web-based ancillaries for students and teachers

Social Science, 15/e, approaches social science from a common-sense perspective, rather than from a conventional social science angle. Readers will see how seemingly diverse disciplines intermingle - anthropology and economics, for example. In the end, students will be able to approach social issues with unbiased problem-solving skills.

The Keynesian revolution in the United States was a remarkable event in intellectual and economic history entailing a major shift in economists' thinking and the creation of a new field in economics - macroeconomics. From the first roots in the 1930s to Keynesianism's predominance in the early 1950s, The Coming of Keynesianism to America explains what the revolution was, as well as why and how it occurred.This book is based around a set of interviews with, what might be called, the Keynesian revolutionaries - the individuals most responsible for introducing Keynesian economics to the United States. It includes formal interviews with Richard Musgrave, Abba Lerner, Paul Samuelson, Tibor Scitovsky, Evsey Domar, Robert Bryce, Lorie Tarshis, John Kenneth Galbraith, Paul Sweezy, Walter Salant and Leon Keyserling. These interviews give the reader a sense of what the Keynesian revolution was and how it spread, as well as the hostility these earlier revolutionaries faced, and the similarities and differences in their views. The interviews are introduced by an essay which presents the Keynesian revolution in three parts as theoretical, political and pedagogical, concerned with the development of tools and models to teach macroeconomics. This essay sets the stage for the interviews and relates them to modern macroeconomic debates. The Keynesianization of America is interesting not just to historians of economic thought but also to other economists who want to know about the development of their discipline and to interested lay people and historians who follow the spread of ideas.

This study of macroeconomics combines treatment of opposing theories with a presentation of evidence to point the way toward a reconstructed macro research and policy programme.

This study of macroeconomics combines treatment of opposing theories with a presentation of evidence to point the way toward a reconstructed macro research and policy programme.

Offering an introduction to the Japanese political system, this book covers the end of the Koizumi era, the brief and troubled premiership of Abe, and the selection of Fukuda as prime minister. It includes material on "bubble" and "post-bubble" economic developments, as well as coverage of health care policy.

This volume, which evolved from a number of conversations with economists includes a collection of essays that have two themes: a positive one and a negative one. The positive theme of the essays is that economic analysis, if kept in perspective, is enormously powerful. It provides a way of uncovering the workings of real-world phenomena that fit the perceptions many people have. The negative theme is that economic analysis is not being kept in perspective by economists, and that loss of perspective means that much of what comes out under the name of economic research has little or no value for society. But even this negative theme has positive overtones in demonstrating the power of economic analysis.

This volume, which evolved from a number of conversations with economists includes a collection of essays that have two themes: a positive one and a negative one. The positive theme of the essays is that economic analysis, if kept in perspective, is enormously powerful. It provides a way of uncovering the workings of real-world phenomena that fit the perceptions many people have. The negative theme is that economic analysis is not being kept in perspective by economists, and that loss of perspective means that much of what comes out under the name of economic research has little or no value for society. But even this negative theme has positive overtones in demonstrating the power of economic analysis.

"The Changing Face of Economics" gives the reader a sense of the modern economics profession and how it is changing. The volume does so with a set of nine interviews with cutting edge economists, followed by interviews with two Nobel Prize winners, Paul Samuelson and Kenneth Arrow, reflecting on the changes that are occurring. What results is a clear picture of today's economics--and it is no longer standard neoclassical economics.
The interviews and commentary together demonstrate that economics is currently undergoing a fundamental shift in method and is moving away from traditional neoclassical economics into a dynamic set of new methods and approaches. These new approaches include work in behavioral economics, experimental economics, evolutionary game theory and ecological approaches, complexity and nonlinear dynamics, methodological analysis, and agent-based modeling.

David E. Colander is Professor of Economics, Middlebury College.

J. Barkley Rosser, Jr., is Professor of Economics and Kirby L. Kramer Jr. Professor of Business Administration, James Madison University.

Richard P. F. Holt is Professor of Churchill Honors and Economics, Southern Oregon University.

This book, first published in 1989, contains a spirited debate between eminent economists, journalists, and publishers about the spread of economic ideas. Using many of the same ideas as do the rhetorical and sociological philosophical schools, the contributors to this book discuss the spread of economic ideas in readily understandable English. The examination of the flow of ideas among economists and from economists to the public is followed by a discussion of the public policy use and abuse of these concepts. A final section provides insights into the funding of ideas and the incentives to make economics more relevant. The dialogue among the book's contributors provides both the lay reader and the interested professional with fascinating insights into what happens behind the scenes in academia, publishing, and journalism.

This book, first published in 1989, contains a spirited debate between eminent economists, journalists, and publishers about the spread of economic ideas. Using many of the same ideas as do the rhetorical and sociological philosophical schools, the contributors to this book discuss the spread of economic ideas in readily understandable English. The examination of the flow of ideas among economists and from economists to the public is followed by a discussion of the public policy use and abuse of these concepts. A final section provides insights into the funding of ideas and the incentives to make economics more relevant. The dialogue among the book's contributors provides both the lay reader and the interested professional with fascinating insights into what happens behind the scenes in academia, publishing, and journalism.

Written in an informal colloquial style, this student-friendly "Principles of Microeconomics" textbook does not sacrifice intellectual depth in its quest for accessibility. The author's primary concern is to instill 'economic sensibility' in the student. Colander emphasizes the intellectual and historical context to which the economic models are applied. Distinguishing features found within Colander's text are: cutting edge and modern colloquial style, narrative focus on policy, and emphasis on the importance of institutions and history. Focus on Modeling: Economics is a method of reasoning, not truths. It presents alternative perspectives in economics.