Christian Political Economy and Economic Science: a Pathway for Interdisciplinary Dialogue
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AEM751. MICROECONOMICS.Pdf
NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA COURSE CODE AEM 751 COURSE TITLE: MICROECONOMICS Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension National Open University of Nigeria, Kaduna UNIT ONE: SCOPE ECONOMICS Table of contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Objectives 3.1 Definition of Economics 3.2 Resources 3.3 Scarcity 3.4 Choice and opportunity cost 3.5 Basic economic problems 4.0 conclusion 5.0 summary 6.0 tutor – marked assignment 7.0 references and further readings 1.0 INTRODUCTION Most of you must have acquired some basic knowledge of economics before this stage of study. In this introductory unit, we shall be investigating the scope of economics in terms of how economics play the important role of preferring solution to the problem of society. It has been realized that resources are limited and human wants. Economist therefore focus on the problem of making the best use of resources available to satisfy these wants. Since there are many alternative things we can do with our resources, choice has to be made as to which to have per time. This unit will take you through the concept of wants, scarcity and opportunity cost. The unit will also consider some basic problems that economist attempt to deduce solution. 2.0 OBJECTIVE It is expected that after you must have gone through this course, you should be able to: 1. Define economics and make basic distinction between macroeconomics and microeconomics. 2. Define resources 3. Identify the various types of productive resources 4. Describe the relationship between scarcity and choice. 5. Explain the concept of opportunity cost 6. -
The End of Economics, Or, Is
THE END OF ECONOMICS, OR, IS UTILITARIANISM FINISHED? By John D. Mueller James Madison Program Fellow Fellow of The Lehrman Institute President, LBMC LLC Princeton University, 127 Corwin Hall, 15 April 2002 Summary. According to Lionel Robbins’ classic definition, “Economics is the science which studies human behavior as a relationship between ends and scarce means that have alternate uses.” Yet most modern economists assume that economic choice involves only the means and not to the ends of human action. The reason seems to be that most modern economists are ignorant of the history of their own discipline before Adam Smith or Jeremy Bentham. Leading economists like Gary Becker attempt to explain all human behavior, including love and hate, as a maximization of “utility.” But historically and logically, an adequate description of economic choice has always required both a ranking of persons as ends and a ranking of scarce goods as means. What is missing from modern economics is an adequate description of the ranking of persons as ends. This is reflected in the absence of a satisfactory microeconomic explanation (for example, within the household) as to how goods are distributed to their final users, and in an overemphasis at the political level on an “individualistic social welfare function,” by which policymakers are purported to add up the preferences of a society of selfish individuals and determine all distribution from the government downwards, as if the nation or the world were one large household. As this “hole” in economic theory is recognized, an army of “neo-scholastic” economists will find full employment for the first few decades of the 21st Century, busily rewriting the Utilitarian “economic approach to human behavior” that dominated the last three decades of the 20th Century. -
Principles of Agricultural Economics Credit Hours: 2+0 Prepared By: Dr
Study Material Course No: Ag Econ. 111 Course Title: Principles of Agricultural Economics Credit Hours: 2+0 Prepared By: Dr. Harbans Lal Course Contents: Sr. Topic Aprox.No. No. of Lectures Unit-I 1 Economics: Meaning, Definition, Subject Matter 2 2 Divisions of Economics, Importance of Economics 2 3 Agricultural Economics Meaning, Definition 2 Unit-II 4 Basic concepts (Demand, meaning, definition, kind of demand, demand 3 schedule, demand curve, law of demand, Extension and contraction Vs increase and decrease in demand) 5 Consumption 2 6 Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility meaning, Definition, Assumption, 3 Limitation, Importance Unit-III 7 Indifference curve approach: properties, Application, derivation of demand 3 8 Consumer’s Surplus, Meaning, Definition, Importance 2 9 Definition, Importance, Elasticity of demand, Types, degrees and method of 4 measuring Elasticity, Importance of elasticity of demand Unit-IV 10 National Income: Concepts, Measurement. Public finance: Meaning, Principle, 3 Public revenue 11 Public Revenue: meaning, Service tax, meaning, classification of taxes; 3 Cannons of taxation Unit-V 12 Public Expenditure: Meaning Principles 2 13 Inflation, meaning definition, kind of inflation. 2 Unit-I Lecture No. 1 Economics- Meaning, Definitions and Subject Matter The Economic problem: Economic theory deals with the law and principles which govern the functioning of an economy and it various parts. An economy exists because of two basic facts. Firstly human wants for goods and services are unlimited and secondly productive resources with which to produce goods and services are scarce. In other words, we have the problem of allocating scarce resource so as to achieve the greatest possible satisfaction of wants. -
Defining Economics in the Twenty First Century
Modern Economy, 2012, 3, 597-607 http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/me.2012.35079 Published Online September 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/me) Defining Economics in the Twenty First Century Bhekuzulu Khumalo Private Researcher, Toronto, Canada Email: [email protected] Received June 4, 2012; revised July 2, 2012; accepted July 10, 2012 ABSTRACT Economics as a subject matter has been given a variety of definitions over the last 200 years, however all the definitions have a similar concept that they lean towards, a general principle one can say. The definitions are not wrong, this paper does not seek to prove that they are wrong, but only to show they where right for their time, a subject matter like eco- nomics, though studied over the centuries only formally became a discipline in its own right in the last two centuries, and as such is fairly young and as we know more there perhaps is a time to seek a definition for economics for the twenty first century. This paper seeks to give such a definition in light of the increased understanding of economics or at the least we have access to greater information concerning the discipline economics than say Adam Smith, Alfred Mar- shall or Hayek. Take the definition by Samuelson, “Economics is the study of how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable commodities and distribute them among different people”, though correct, is the definition sufficient for the twenty first century and beyond, that is all this paper seeks to answer, for it is the definition of a discipline that guides the readers thoughts. -
A Study on Religious Variables Influencing GDP Growth Over Countries
Religion and Economic Development - A study on Religious variables influencing GDP growth over countries Wonsub Eum * University of California, Berkeley Thesis Advisor: Professor Jeremy Magruder April 29, 2011 * I would like to thank Professor Jeremy Magruder for his valuable advice and guidance throughout the paper. I would also like to thank Professor Roger Craine, Professor Sofia Villas-Boas, and Professor Minjung Park for their advice on this research. Any error or mistake is my own. Abstract Religion is a popular topic to be considered as one of the major factors that affect people’s lifestyles. However, religion is one of the social factors that most economists are very careful in stating a connection with economic variables. Among few researchers who are keen to find how religions influence the economic growth, Barro had several publications with individual religious activities or beliefs and Montalvo and Reynal-Querol on religious diversity. In this paper, I challenge their studies by using more recent data, and test whether their arguments hold still for different data over time. In the first part of the paper, I first write down a simple macroeconomics equation from Mankiw, Romer, and Weil (1992) that explains GDP growth with several classical variables. I test Montalvo and Reynal-Querol (2003)’s variables – religious fragmentation and religious polarization – and look at them in their continents. Also, I test whether monthly attendance, beliefs in hell/heaven influence GDP growth, which Barro and McCleary (2003) used. My results demonstrate that the results from Barro’s paper that show a significant correlation between economic growth and religious activities or beliefs may not hold constant for different time period. -
11 ECONOMICS ASSIGN 1.Pdf
ECONOMICS Class -11 Chapter-1 (Definitions of economics) Economics, as a social science, is concerned with economic questions. It seeks to explain systematically a large variety of questions pertaining to economic behaviour of individuals,the society and the economy. Major definitions of economics Wealth Definition-Adam Smith Adam Smith, who is generally regarded as the father of economics,defined economics as "A science which enquires into the nature and causes of wealth of nations."In his famous book, An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, he emphasised the production, growth and distribution of wealth as the subject matter of economics. Welfare definition -Alfred Marshal "Political Economy or Economics is a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life; it examines that part of individual and social action which is most closely connected with the attainment and with the use of material requisites of well-being". Scarcity Definition-Lionel Robbins Robbins was not only a critic of the welfare definition of economics, but he also gave a new definition of economics, which has come to be known as 'scarcity definition'. According to Robbins, "Economics is the science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses. Growth Definition According to Prof. Paul A Samuelson “ Economics is the study of how men and society choose with or without the use of money, to employ the scarce productive resources which have alternative uses, to produce various commodities over time and distribute them for consumption now and in future. SUBJECT MATTER OF ECONOMICS The subject matter of economics is divided into two major branches: Microecononmics and Macroeconomics. -
Fundamentals of Economics
WHAT IS ECONOMICS? CHAPTER1 1-1 Introduction to Economics • 1. Origin of Economics • 2. What Economics is all about? (Concepts & Definitions) • 3. Significance/Advantages of Economics • 4. Economic Theory • 5. Economics as Science • 6. Economic Laws • 7. Economic Problems • 8. Production Possibility Curve • 9. Concept of Opportunity Cost • 10. Microeconomics • 11. Limitations of Economics 1. Origin of Economics Our activities to generate income are termed as economic activities, which are responsible for the origin and development of Economics as a subject. Originated as a Science of Statecraft. Emergence of Political Economy. 1776 : Adam Smith (Father of Economics) – Science of Wealth Economy is concerned with the production, consumption, distribution and investment of goods and services. 2. What Economics is all about? Stages & Definitions of Economics Wealth Welfare Scarcity Growth Need Definition Definition Definition Oriented Oriented (Adam (Ayred (L. Robbins) Definition Definition Smith) Marshall) (Samuelsons) (Jacob Viner) a. Wealth Concept :Adam Smith, who is generally regarded as father of economics, defined economics as “ a science which enquires into the nature and cause of wealth of nation”. He emphasized the production and growth of wealth as the subject matter of economics. Characteristics : # Takes into account only material goods. Criticism of Wealth Oriented Definition : # Considered economics as a dismal or selfish science. # Defined wealth in a very narrow and restricted sense which considers only material and tangible goods. # Have given emphasis only to wealth and reduced man to secondary place in the study of economics. b. Welfare Concept :According to A. Marshall “Economics is a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life; it examines that part of individual and social action which is most closely connected with the attainment and with the use of material requisites of well being. -
The Concept of Energy in T. F. Torrance and in Orthodox Theology
THE CONCEPT OF ENERGY IN T. F. TORRANCE AND IN ORTHODOX THEOLOGY Stoyan Tanev, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Technology & Innovation, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Theology, nieity o Sof lgi Co-founder, International Center for Theologicl Scientifc lte [email protected] Abstract: The motivation for this paper is fourfold: (1) to emphasize the fact that the teaching on the distinction between Divine essence and energies is an integral part of Orthodox theology; (2) to provide an analysis of why Torrance did not adhere to it; (3) to correct certain erroneous perceptions regarding Orthodox theology put forward by scholars who have already discussed Torrance’s view on the essence-energies distinction in its relation to eication or theosis an nall to suggest an analsis emonstrating the correlation between Torrance’s engagements with particular themes in modern physics and the content of his theological positions. This last analsis is mae comparing his scientic theological approach to the approach of Christos Yannaras. The comparison provides an opportunity to emonstrate the correlation etween their preoccupations with specic themes in moern phsics an their specic theological insights. Thomas Torrance has clearly neglected the epistemological insights emerging from the advances of quantum mechanics in the 20th century and has ended up neglecting the value of the Orthodox teaching on the distinction between Divine essence and energies. This neglect seems to be associated with his specic prehalceonian unerstaning of personprosoponhpostasis. s a result he has expressed opinions that contradict the apophatic character of the distinction between Divine essence and energies and the subtlety of the apophatic realism of iinehuman communion. -
Where Keynes Went Wrong
Praise for Where Keynes Went Wrong “[An] impassioned . and . much needed book. In plain prose, . Hunter Lewis . begins by patiently walking us through precisely what Keynes said . then reveals why Keynes’s work is ‘remarkably unsupported by evidence or logic.’ Lewis does much more besides, showing how Keynesianism has lived in the minds and hearts of politicians, with disastrous results.” —Gene Epstein, Barron’s “Lewis has exposed with unmatched clarity the lineaments of Keynes’s system and enabled us to see exactly its disabling defects. Keynes defied common sense, unable to sustain the brilliant para- doxes that his fertile intellect constantly devised. Lewis’s book is an ideal guide to Keynes’s dangerous and destructive economics. .” —David Gordon, LewRockwell.com “Just what the world needs, and just in time. Keynes is demolished and his quack system refuted. But this wonderful book does more. It restores clear thinking and common sense to their rightful places in the economic policy debate. Three cheers for Hunter Lewis!” —James Grant, Editor of Grant’s Interest Rate Observer “Hunter Lewis has written a splendid book called Where Keynes We nt Wrong. The dissection of the English economist who died in 1946 is especially timely, given that the past two administra- tions and the current one are identical in believing wholeheart- edly in . key Keynesian dogma.” —Patrick McIlheran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “[This] compelling, powerful, and extremely readable book . is fantastic. ‘Must’ reading.” —Kevin Price, CBS and CNN Radio and BizPlusBlog “Lewis has done a service, even if in the negative, of concisely and critically summarizing Keynes’s economic theories, and his book will make readers think.” —Library Journal “[This] highly readable . -
1 an Introduction to Economic Theology
1 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC THEOLOGY Stefan Schwarzkopf The gods, likening themselves to all kinds of strangers, go in various disguises from city to city … Homer, The Odyssey Economic theology as an academic fi eld Despite widespread assumptions about an increasing trend towards secularization in Western societies, there are lingering suspicions about the fervour with which markets and “economic freedom” have become elevated to the status of a belief system. This fervour raises doubts as to whether liberal Enlightenment ever managed to banish religion from the sphere of polit- ical economy and economic organization. The doubters and heretics who reject the idea of a global victory of secular democracy – Francis Fukuyama’s “end of history” – have rallied under the banner of a “theological turn” in social theory (Fukuyama 1992 ; Harrington 2007 ; Juergensmeier 2013 ). This term comprises an as yet loosely structured intellectual movement within the social sciences, social philosophy and the humanities that reconsiders the relevance of theological reasoning. This movement takes seriously the impact of people’s expressed and unexpressed notions of what is sacred in the way societies are shaped. Economics and business administration, too, have recently been exposed to a theological turn of their own. Among the many ways to conceptualize this exposure, the term “economic theology” suggests itself as a way to reconfi gure theorizing the economy around the role that theology played in shaping economic concepts and the social presence of the sacred in eco- nomic life. Economic theology, although a relatively new term, can be considered a research fi eld with intellectual roots stretching all the way back to Karl Marx, Max Weber, Werner Sombart, É mile Durkheim, Marcel Mauss, Ernst Troeltsch and Walter Benjamin. -
The Economics of W.S.Jevons
THE ECONOMICS OF W.S.JEVONS Sandra Peart London and New York First published 1996 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 © 1996 Sandra Peart All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by an electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Peart, Sandra. The economics of W.S.Jevons/Sandra Peart. p. cm.—(Routledge studies in the history of economics; 9) Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Jevons, William Stanley, 1835–1882. 2. Economists—Great Britain—Biography. 3. Economics—Great Britain—History—19th century. I. Title. II. Series. HB103.J5P4 1996 95–51459 330.157–dc20 CIP ISBN 0-203-02249-1 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-20445-X (Adobe eReader Format) ISBN 0-415-06713-8 Truth is the iron hand within the velvety glove, and the one who has truth & good logic on his side will ultimately overcome millions who are led by confused and contradictory ideas. -
Religion, Culture, and Economic Performance
RELIGION, CULTURE, AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE Marcus Noland Senior Fellow Institute for International Economics Abstract The hypothesis that the coefficients on variables of religious affiliation are jointly equal to zero can frequently be rejected at conventional levels of statistical significance (i.e., religion matters), but no robust relationship between adherence to major world religions and national economic performance is uncovered, using both cross-national and subnational data. The results with respect to Islam do not support the notion that it is inimical to growth. On the contrary, virtually every statistically significant coefficient on Muslim population shares reported in this paper—in both cross-country and within-country statistical analyses—is positive. If anything, Islam promotes growth. JEL codes: O40, Z12 Keywords: economic growth, convergence, religion, Islam, India, Malaysia, Ghana Author’s note: I would like to thank Scott Holladay, Paul Karner, and Josh Catlin for essential research assistance. Fred Bergsten, Jari Eloranta, Howard Pack, Dave Richardson, and seminar participants at the Korea Development Institute, the East Asia Economics Association meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Middle East Technical University, and the Institute for International Economics offered helpful comments on an earlier draft. Email address: [email protected] INTRODUCTION Abundant evidence affirms that religious belief affects a wide range of behavioral outcomes (Iannaccone 1998), and religious activity can affect economic performance at the level