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Comments on Economic Models, Economics, and Economists: Remarks on Economics Rules by Dani Rodrik

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  • Ariel Rubinstein

Abstract

This essay reviews Dani Rodrik's superb book Economics Rules and argues that it can serve as an ideal platform for discussing what economists can and should accomplish. The essay comments on some of the major issues in contemporary economics examined in the book: whether economics is a science, the meaning of economic models, the nature of "facts" in economics, and others. It also touches on issues that the book overlooks, such as the sociology of the profession, the teaching curriculum in economics, and the dismal situation of publishing in economics.

Suggested Citation

  • Ariel Rubinstein, 2017. "Comments on Economic Models, Economics, and Economists: Remarks on Economics Rules by Dani Rodrik," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 55(1), pages 162-172, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jeclit:v:55:y:2017:i:1:p:162-72
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/jel.20161408
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Colander, 2015. "Intellectual Incest on the Charles: Why Economists are a little bit off," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 41(2), pages 155-159, March.
    2. David Card & Stefano DellaVigna, 2013. "Nine Facts about Top Journals in Economics," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 51(1), pages 144-161, March.
    3. John P. Conley & Ali Sina Onder, 2014. "The Research Productivity of New PhDs in Economics: The Surprisingly High Non-success of the Successful," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 28(3), pages 205-216, Summer.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Polterovich, Victor, 2017. "Разработка стратегий социально-экономического развития: наука vs идеология [Designing the Strategies for Socio-Economic Development: Science vs. Ideology]," MPRA Paper 81243, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Carlo D'Ippoliti, 2021. "“Many‐Citedness”: Citations Measure More Than Just Scientific Quality," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(5), pages 1271-1301, December.
    3. Bruno S. Frey, 2017. "Reactivity in Economic Science," CESifo Working Paper Series 6593, CESifo.
    4. Corsi, Marcella & D’Ippoliti, Carlo & Zacchia, Giulia, 2019. "Diversity of backgrounds and ideas: The case of research evaluation in economics," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(9), pages 1-1.
    5. Polterovich, Victor, 2022. "На Пути К Общей Теории Социально-Экономического Развития: К Синтезу Двух Канонов [On the way to a general theory of socio-economic development: Towards the synthesis of two canons]," MPRA Paper 111538, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Polterovich, V., 2017. "Designing the Strategies for Socio-Economic Development: Science vs. Ideology," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 35(3), pages 198-206.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • B40 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - General
    • C50 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - General

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