Sam Vaknin author of this article
III. Scientific MethodTo classified as science, economic theory must satisfy the following conditions: All Inclusive (anamnetic)? It must encompass, integrate and include all the known facts of the case. Coherent? It is a chronological, structured and causal. Consistent? Self-consistent (the sub-”stories” can not conflict with each other or against the principal grain “Report”), and consistent with the observed phenomena (both related and related to the other universe). Logically compatible? It is not contrary to the laws of logic both internally (the story is set to be a part of the internal logic) and externally (the Aristotelian logic, which applies to macro-observable world). Insightful? It is to inspire feelings of awe and wonder, which is due something familiar in a new light, or from a pattern created from a large amount of data (“data mining”) to see. Insight has taken note of logic, language and narrative development. Aesthetic? The story is so compelling, and the “right”, beautiful (aesthetic), not cumbersome, not awkward, uninterrupted, smooth, and so on. Poor? The story should be used for at least a number of assumptions and entities in view of all of the above requirements. Explain? The story is to explain the behavior of economic actors, their decisions, why events developed the way they do. Predictive (prognosis)? The story should have the ability to predict future events and future behavior of economic agents, and other meaningful figures and the inner emotional and cognitive dynamics of the actors said. Prescriptive? The power to effect change (or better, is a question of the value of art and fashion choices). Determination? The story has a better society and guiding organizing principle to be. Elastic? The story has an intrinsic ability to self organize, reorganize, give room to emerging command, accommodate new data, stiffness of the modes of reaction to attacks inside out to avoid. Some of these consider the current economic reports on general theories in disguise. But scientific theories must not only meet most of the above conditions. They must also pass the crucial wrong testability, verifiability, shows errors, falsifiability, and repeatability? all the failed economic theories. Many economists argue that no experiments can be designed to the statements of financial reports to test their truth-value to determine, and so put them theorems.There are five reasons for this failure is concerned – the inability to test hypotheses in The economy: Ethical? Tests to be involved in humans. The required result, subjects are not aware of reasons for tests and their objectives. Sometimes even the performance of the test a secret (double blind tests) remain. Some experiments may involve unpleasant experiences. This is ethically unacceptable. Design problems – Design of Experiments in economics is awkward and difficult. Mistakes are often inevitable, but a careful and meticulous design of the experiment. Psychological Uncertainty Principle? The current status of the person can be (theoretically) fully known. But over time, and try to influence the subject and void this knowledge (“time inconsistencies”). Very processes of measurement and observation influence the subject and change him. Uniqueness? Experiments in economics, which is usually unique and can not be elsewhere and at other times, even though they deal with similar problems. Topics (tested in humans) are never the same as the aforementioned psychological uncertainty principle. Repeated experiments with other subjects affects the scientific value of the results. Understanding Generation is a testable hypothesis? Economics is not appropriate hypotheses, which can be subjected to scientific research. This is related to the fabulous (= storytelling) nature of the discipline. In a sense, the economy has affinity with some private languages. It is an art form in itself is self-sufficient. If structural, internal constraints and requirements are met? considered valid even if they do not satisfy external (scientific) requirements. Thus the standard theory of utility considered valid in economics despite empirical evidence to the contrary – simply because it is aesthetic and mathematically convenient. So, what is a good economic reports? Stories provide the organizing principle of the economic sense of order and followed the law is an inevitable drive toward well defined (though perhaps hidden) goals, the ubiquity of the importance of that part of the whole. They will try to ‘why?’ S ‘and’ how? ‘S’ to answer. They are dialogic and prescriptive (= to behavioral rules). The client (eg a politician) asks: “Why am I (and here the economic problems, or behavior.” Then the story is spun: “The situation is not because the world is capricious and cruel but because of … if you have to do this or that situation can be improved “client, the mere fact that a statement that trouble him so far that there is hope, and -. calmed them by providing the following recipes – it can not be held responsible for any shortcomings of that, who or what the perpetrator (aimed at spreading hatred is far more a political tool), and that is why he believed that the administration of justice and one of the highest, transcendental principle is restored. This sense of “law and order” is further enhanced as the narrative of predictions that come true (either because they produce are self-fulfilling or because some real “law” – indeed, the pattern – is observed) Current IV EconomicsNeo-classical economics has problems on many fronts at the same time, not this multiple failure led to despair and to the basic observations and review the basics: a government, government was granted special status and treatment. … special treatment in economic theory (as opposed with other actors and agents), it was alternately cast as a saint (which is to selflessly maximize social security) -. or a villain (to maintain and relentlessly to increase its strength, as public choice theory) Both views are caricatures of reality, governments do not want to preserve. and increase the power, but they use it primarily to the income and self-enrichment.2 share. Technology and innovation economy has failed the importance of innovation for growth and development. It does not take into account the special characteristics the knowledge industries (where returns increase rather than decrease, and the network effect to win). Thus, the current economic thinking is woefully inadequate to deal with information monopolies (such as Microsoft), path dependence, and pervasive externalities. 3. long-term investment horizon classic cost / benefit analysis is not very long-term investment time horizon address (time). The underlying assumption (opportunity cost of delayed consumption) is not greater than the investor’s financial life. Put more directly: investors care less about their grandchildren in the future because this is their own predictions about far into the future are highly uncertain, and people who refuse to current decisions based on fuzzy “what the IFS.” This is a problem because many current investments (for example: tackling climate change). likely to be delivering results, use the next few decades. There is no effective method of cost / benefit analysis applicable to such time horizons. (continued)