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Facts, Theories, and Policies in the History of Economics. An Introductory Note

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  • Fabio Masini

Abstract

Facts, theories, and policies can be considered as the vertices of a triangle. While many contributions explore along the edges of such triangle, between couples of poles, we claim that the history of economics thought is fundamentally interested in looking within the whole area of the triangle. The relationship among theories, public choices, and events is complex, often twodirectional, with some unforeseeable short circuits. In order to tackle such complexity, it is necessary to use an interpretative model that assumes a high degree of interdependence between such variables and focuses on the evolution of their mutual interactions over time. The paper aims to show that this is the approach that the works presented in this issue of the journal try to address and illustrates some of their key features, in particular country-specificity and ideological bias.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Masini, 2013. "Facts, Theories, and Policies in the History of Economics. An Introductory Note," HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND POLICY, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2013(1), pages 5-16.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:spespe:v:html10.3280/spe2013-001001
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    Cited by:

    1. Francesco Cattabrini & Fabio Masini, 2017. "Balance of Payment, Wage Indexation and Growth: the Role of CESPE in Italian Policy-Making in the 1970s," HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND POLICY, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2017(2), pages 25-48.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • B10 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - General
    • B41 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - Economic Methodology

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