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In Favor of Rigor and Relevance: A Reply to Mark Blaug

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  • Heinz D. Kurz
  • Neri Salvadori

Abstract

Mark Blaug has written another paper in which he attacks “Sraffian” economics. He characterizes his piece as “a new version of an earlier effort [that] extends and hopefully deepens the argument.” A careful scrutiny of the paper shows that Blaug reiterates once again his previous criticisms, adds a few new ones, but does not enter into a serious discussion of the replies to his earlier efforts. We provide an overall assessment of Blaug's various attacks on “Sraffians” and draw readers' attention to a significant change in direction in his recent one. In addition, we refute a number of contentions and remarks by Blaug. We conclude with a plea for rigor and relevance.

Suggested Citation

  • Heinz D. Kurz & Neri Salvadori, 2011. "In Favor of Rigor and Relevance: A Reply to Mark Blaug," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 43(3), pages 607-616, Fall.
  • Handle: RePEc:hop:hopeec:v:43:y:2011:i:3:p:607-616
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pierangelo Garegnani, 2002. "Misunderstanding Classical Economics? A Reply to Blaug," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 34(1), pages 241-254, Spring.
    2. Heinz D. Kurz & Neri Salvadori (ed.), 1998. "The Elgar Companion to Classical Economics," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, volume 0, number 851.
    3. Heinz D. Kurz, 1998. "Marx on Technological Change: The Ricardian Heritage," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Riccardo Bellofiore (ed.), Marxian Economics: A Reappraisal, chapter 9, pages 119-138, Palgrave Macmillan.
    4. Mark Blaug, 1999. "Misunderstanding Classical Economics: The Sraffian Interpretation of the Surplus Approach," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 31(2), pages 213-236, Summer.
    5. Pasinetti,Luigi L., 2007. "Keynes and the Cambridge Keynesians," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521872270, October.
    6. Kurz,Heinz D. & Salvadori,Neri, 1997. "Theory of Production," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521588676.
    7. Neri Salvadori (ed.), 2003. "The Theory of Economic Growth," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2741.
    8. Mark Blaug, 2009. "The Trade-Off between Rigor and Relevance: Sraffian Economics as a Case in Point," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 41(2), pages 219-247, Summer.
    9. Tony Aspromourgos, 2004. "Sraffian research programmes and unorthodox economics," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 179-206.
    10. Salvadori, Neri, 1981. "Falling Rate of Profit with a Constant Real Wage: An Example," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 5(1), pages 59-66, March.
    11. Heinz D. Kurz & Neri Salvadori, 2002. "One Theory or Two? Walras's Critique of Ricardo," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 34(2), pages 365-398, Summer.
    12. Schefold, Bertram, 1976. "Different Forms of Technical Progress," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 86(344), pages 806-819, December.
    13. Kurz, Heinz D, 1992. "Adam Smith on Foreign Trade: A Note on the 'Vent-for-Surplus' Argument," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 59(236), pages 475-481, November.
    14. Kurz, Heinz D & Salvadori, Neri, 1992. "Morishima on Ricardo: Review Article," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 16(2), pages 227-247, June.
    15. Heinz D. Kurz & Neri Salvadori, 2008. "New Growth Theory and Development Economics," Chapters, in: Amitava Krishna Dutt & Jaime Ros (ed.), International Handbook of Development Economics, Volumes 1 & 2, volume 0, chapter 15, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    16. Heinz D. Kurz & Neri Salvadori, 2002. "Mark Blaug on the “Sraffian Interpretation of the Surplus Approach”," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 34(1), pages 225-236, Spring.
    17. Christian Gehrke & Heinz D. Kurz, 2006. "Sraffa on von Bortkiewicz: Reconstructing the Classical Theory of Value and Distribution," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 38(1), pages 91-149, Spring.
    18. Kurz, Heinz D, 1978. "Rent Theory in a Multisectoral Model," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 30(1), pages 16-37, March.
    19. Mark Blaug, 2002. "Kurz and Salvadori on the Sraffian Interpretation of the Surplus Approach," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 34(1), pages 237-240, Spring.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Kemp-Benedict, Eric, 2014. "A Kaleckian Model with Intermediate Goods," MPRA Paper 57076, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mark Blaug; Sraffian economics;

    JEL classification:

    • B51 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Socialist; Marxian; Sraffian
    • D50 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium - - - General
    • B12 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Classical (includes Adam Smith)
    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists

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