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Earw(h)ig: I can’t hear you because your ideas are old

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  • Peter J. Boettke
  • Christopher J. Coyne
  • Peter T. Leeson

Abstract

This paper provides a critical challenge to the Whig view of economic ideas, which holds that good ideas from the past are embodied in the common scientific wisdom. In contrast to this position, we contend that the market for ideas, while no doubt competitive in terms of scientific rivalry, is not free of distortions in the incentives and signals that guide economic scientists. As a result, ideas that are flawed can come to dominate the profession, while useful ideas are left on the proverbial sidewalk of intellectual affairs. The smooth evolution of economic thought from falsehood to truth that underlies the Whig perspective is complicated by both historical circumstances and the intimate relationship between economics and politics that follows from the attraction of public policy for those who enter the discipline.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter J. Boettke & Christopher J. Coyne & Peter T. Leeson, 2014. "Earw(h)ig: I can’t hear you because your ideas are old," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 38(3), pages 531-544.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cambje:v:38:y:2014:i:3:p:531-544.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/cje/bes075
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Higgs, Robert, 2006. "Depression, War, and Cold War: Studies in Political Economy," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195182927.
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    4. George J. Stigler, 1969. "Does Economics Have a Useful Past?," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 1(2), pages 217-230, Fall.
    5. Peter Leeson & Christopher Coyne & Peter Boettke, 2006. "Does the market self-correct? Asymmetrical adjustment and the structure of economic error," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 79-90.
    6. Butos William N. & Boettke Peter J., 2002. "Kirznerian Entrepreneurship and The Economics of Science," Journal des Economistes et des Etudes Humaines, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. A. Maltsev., 2015. "History of Economic Thought, Quo vadis?," VOPROSY ECONOMIKI, N.P. Redaktsiya zhurnala "Voprosy Economiki", vol. 3.
    2. Eduardo Angeli, 2018. "Caminhos da Escola Austríaca: relação com ortodoxia, engajamento e produção de novo conhecimento [Paths of the Austrian School: its relationship with orthodoxy, engagement and production of new knowle," Nova Economia, Economics Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil), vol. 28(2), pages 681-704, May-Augus.
    3. Slavica Manic, 2016. "Economics Imperialism: SWOT Analysis," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 6(3), pages 151-161, March.
    4. Diana W. Thomas & Michael D. Thomas, 2020. "Behavioral symmetry, rent seeking, and the Republic of Science," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 183(3), pages 443-459, June.
    5. Peter Boettke & Alain Marciano, 2015. "The past, present and future of Virginia Political Economy," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 53-65, April.

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