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Obory společenských věd: odluka nebo spolupráce?
[Disciplines of social sciences: separation or cooperation?]

Author

Listed:
  • János Kornai

Abstract

The author addresses the question of interdisciplinary studies based on his own experience. His negative experiences are confirmed by the results of a quantitative survey demonstrating that the proportion of citations from other disciplines is very low in four examined fields (economics, law, political science and sociology). But the overall picture is colored by positive examples: the theory of rational choice and game theory have broken the bounds of economics. Also multivariable regression analyses of time series of a large number of countries are not confined to economic phenomena. The spread of interdisciplinary studies is also shown in the way system paradigm has become a widely applied general approach. The author ends with three proposals: let us have a minimum conversancy with other disciplines, support interdisciplinary work, and promote the emergence of a new type of "social scientist".

Suggested Citation

  • János Kornai, 2008. "Obory společenských věd: odluka nebo spolupráce? [Disciplines of social sciences: separation or cooperation?]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2008(1), pages 5-16.
    • Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2008:y:2008:i:1:id:627:p:5-16
    DOI: 10.18267/j.polek.627
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Djankov, Simeon & Glaeser, Edward & La Porta, Rafael & Lopez-de-Silanes, Florencio & Shleifer, Andrei, 2003. "The new comparative economics," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 595-619, December.
    2. Becker, Gary S, 1993. "Nobel Lecture: The Economic Way of Looking at Behavior," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 101(3), pages 385-409, June.
    3. Stephen Knack & Philip Keefer, 1995. "Institutions And Economic Performance: Cross‐Country Tests Using Alternative Institutional Measures," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(3), pages 207-227, November.
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    6. Knack, Stephen & Keefer, Philip, 1995. "Institutions and Economic Performance: Cross-Country Tests Using Alternative Institutional Indicators," MPRA Paper 23118, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    interdisciplinary studies; new type of social scienctist; play theory; the theory of rational choice; extra-disciplinary descriptive form; system paradigm; soft data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • A2 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics

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