The economic consequences of homo economicus: neoclassical economic theory and the fallacy of market optimality

This essay presents a critique of the standard ascension from the rational agent to the optimal market in economic theory. Critiques of homo economicus are found unsatisfactory on grounds that its employment allows for the prediction of essential features of actual markets. using this same criterion...

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Main Authors: David Calnitsky, Asher Dupuy-Spencer
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Editura ASE Bucuresti 2013-05-01
Series:The Journal of Philosophical Economics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jpe.ro/poze/articole/94.pdf
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author David Calnitsky
Asher Dupuy-Spencer
author_facet David Calnitsky
Asher Dupuy-Spencer
author_sort David Calnitsky
collection DOAJ
description This essay presents a critique of the standard ascension from the rational agent to the optimal market in economic theory. Critiques of homo economicus are found unsatisfactory on grounds that its employment allows for the prediction of essential features of actual markets. using this same criterion we introduce Gary Becker’s essay, ‘irrational Behavior and economic Theory,’which demonstrated that the same features of markets could be derived from non-rational behaviour. Thus, non-rationality is equally predictive but is less restrictive than rationality. Once the assumption of rationality is relaxed, the concept of market optimality (though not market order) must also be sacrificed.
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spelling doaj.art-820053f58e4f480582abf4bf7fabb5902022-12-22T02:02:08ZdeuEditura ASE BucurestiThe Journal of Philosophical Economics1843-22981844-82082013-05-01VI2The economic consequences of homo economicus: neoclassical economic theory and the fallacy of market optimalityDavid CalnitskyAsher Dupuy-SpencerThis essay presents a critique of the standard ascension from the rational agent to the optimal market in economic theory. Critiques of homo economicus are found unsatisfactory on grounds that its employment allows for the prediction of essential features of actual markets. using this same criterion we introduce Gary Becker’s essay, ‘irrational Behavior and economic Theory,’which demonstrated that the same features of markets could be derived from non-rational behaviour. Thus, non-rationality is equally predictive but is less restrictive than rationality. Once the assumption of rationality is relaxed, the concept of market optimality (though not market order) must also be sacrificed.http://www.jpe.ro/poze/articole/94.pdfNeoclassical economicsRationalityPhilosophy of social science
spellingShingle David Calnitsky
Asher Dupuy-Spencer
The economic consequences of homo economicus: neoclassical economic theory and the fallacy of market optimality
The Journal of Philosophical Economics
Neoclassical economics
Rationality
Philosophy of social science
title The economic consequences of homo economicus: neoclassical economic theory and the fallacy of market optimality
title_full The economic consequences of homo economicus: neoclassical economic theory and the fallacy of market optimality
title_fullStr The economic consequences of homo economicus: neoclassical economic theory and the fallacy of market optimality
title_full_unstemmed The economic consequences of homo economicus: neoclassical economic theory and the fallacy of market optimality
title_short The economic consequences of homo economicus: neoclassical economic theory and the fallacy of market optimality
title_sort economic consequences of homo economicus neoclassical economic theory and the fallacy of market optimality
topic Neoclassical economics
Rationality
Philosophy of social science
url http://www.jpe.ro/poze/articole/94.pdf
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