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Theory versus Application: Does Complexity Crowd Out Evidence?

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Author Info
Philip R. P. Coelho () (Department of Economics, Ball State University)
James E. McClure () (Department of Economics, Ball State University)

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Abstract

Donald F. Gordon hypothesized that mathematical complexity in economics is inversely related to operationalism. Here we (i) operationalize Gordon's hypothesis, (ii) test for the significance of trends in complexity for the American Economic Review, Economic Journal, Journal of Political Economy, and Quarterly Journal of Economics, and (iii) test Gordon's hypothesis by conducting analyses of the contents of articles from the American Economic Review (AER), as well as the contents of articles citing the AER articles. The results do not refute the hypothesis that complexity crowds out operationalism in economics. Additionally, the presence of significant, positive trends toward complexity suggests that the magnitude of the crowding out is on the rise in these journals.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Southern Economic Association in its journal Southern Economic Journal.

Volume (Year): 71 (2005)
Issue (Month): 3 (January)
Pages: 556-565
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Handle: RePEc:sej:ancoec:v:71:3:y:2005:p:556-565

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists

Cited by:
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  1. Philip R P Coelho & Frederick De Worken-Eley III & James E McClure, 2005. "Decline in Critical Commentary, 1963-2004," Econ Journal Watch, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, vol. 2(2), pages 355-361, August. [Downloadable!]
  2. Brian Dollery & Joel Byrnes & Galia Akimova, 2008. "The Curtailment of Critical Commentary in Australian Economics," Econ Journal Watch, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, vol. 5(3), pages 349-351, September. [Downloadable!]
  3. Philip R. P. Coelho & James E. McClure, 2007. "The Market for Lemmas," Working Papers 200702, Ball State University, Department of Economics, revised Apr 2007. [Downloadable!]
  4. Philip R. P. Coelho & Daniel B. Klein & James E. McCure, 2005. "Rejoinder to Pesendorfer," Econ Journal Watch, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, vol. 2(1), pages 32-41, April. [Downloadable!]
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