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Economic Theory, Statistical Inference, and Economic History

Author

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  • Meyer, John R.
  • Conrad, Alfred H.

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to examine critically the function of theory in historical research and particularly in economic history. the function of We shall take as our starting point the assertion that the historian is not interested simply in collecting facts or true statements about some segment of previous experience. He wants to find causes and to explain what happened. The purpose of this paper is to introduce some of the problems attached to the concepts of historical causality and explanation in a stochastic universe and to suggest how the analytic tools of scientific inference can be applied in economic historiography.

Suggested Citation

  • Meyer, John R. & Conrad, Alfred H., 1957. "Economic Theory, Statistical Inference, and Economic History," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(4), pages 524-544, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:17:y:1957:i:04:p:524-544_07
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    Cited by:

    1. Jaworski, Taylor, 2020. "Specification and structure in economic history," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    2. Claude Diebolt, 2015. "Comment appréhender les temporalités de l’histoire économique ? Plaidoyer pour une cliométrie des événements rares," Working Papers of BETA 2015-12, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    3. Denis Barthelemy & Martino Nieddu, 2007. "Non-trade concerns in agricultural and environmental economics: how J.R. Commons and Karl Polanyi can help us?," Post-Print hal-02658077, HAL.
    4. Valérie Canals & Claude Diebolt & Magali Jaoul-Grammare, 2015. "Education, productivité et gain. Retour sur les approches critiques de l’enchaînement causal de la théorie du capital humain," Working Papers of BETA 2015-22, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    5. Filippo Cesarano, 2006. "Economic history and economic theory," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(4), pages 447-467.
    6. Claude Diebolt & Michael Haupert, 2018. "A cliometric counterfactual: what if there had been neither Fogel nor North?," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 12(3), pages 407-434, September.
    7. Richard C. Sutch, 2018. "The Economics of African American Slavery: The Cliometrics Debate," NBER Working Papers 25197, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Denis Barthelemy & Martino Nieddu, 2007. "Non-trade concerns in agricultural and environmental economics: how J.R. Commons and Karl Polanyi can help us?," Post-Print hal-02817728, HAL.
    9. David Mitch, 2010. "Chicago and Economic History," Chapters, in: Ross B. Emmett (ed.), The Elgar Companion to the Chicago School of Economics, chapter 8, Edward Elgar Publishing.

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