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Contrastive explanation and unrealistic models: The case of the new economic geography

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  • Caterina Marchionni

Abstract

The contrastive approach to explanation is employed to shed light on the issue of the unrealisticness of models and their assumptions in economics. If we take explanations to be answers to contrastive questions of the form, then unrealistic elements such as omissions and idealizations are (at least partly) dependent on the selected contrast. These contrast-dependent assumptions are shown to serve the function of fixing the shared causal background between the fact and the foil. It is argued that looking at the explanations offered by economic models in contrastive terms helps to be precise about their explanatory potential, and hence, to assess the adequacy of their unrealistic assumptions. I apply the insights of the contrastive approach to the 'new economic geography' models, and to a selection of criticisms directed at them. This case illustrates how a contrastive analysis can help the solution of disputes concerning the unrealisticness of particular models.

Suggested Citation

  • Caterina Marchionni, 2006. "Contrastive explanation and unrealistic models: The case of the new economic geography," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(4), pages 425-446.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jecmet:v:13:y:2006:i:4:p:425-446
    DOI: 10.1080/13501780601048758
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Grüne-Yanoff, Till & Verreault-Julien, Philippe, 2021. "How-possibly explanations in economics: anything goes?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 108622, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Kuorikoski, Jaakko & Ylikoski, Petri, 2017. "How to Be Critical and Realist about Economics," SocArXiv swynz, Center for Open Science.
    3. Ricardo F. Crespo, 2012. "Models as signs" as "good economic models," Estudios Economicos, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Departamento de Economia, vol. 29(58), pages 1-12, january-j.
    4. Yankuic Galvan-Miyoshi & Robert Walker & Barney Warf, 2015. "Land Change Regimes and the Evolution of the Maize-Cattle Complex in Neoliberal Mexico," Land, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-24, August.
    5. Päivi Oinas & Caterina Marchionni, 2010. "How to Make Progress in Theories of Spatial Clustering: A Case Study of Malmberg and Maskell's Emerging Theory," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 42(4), pages 805-820, April.
    6. Caterina Marchionni & Päivi Oinas, 2023. "The multiple-theories problem: The case of spatial industrial clustering," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 55(1), pages 46-62, February.

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