Re: Method

["Harry L. Cook" <hlc710@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Economics needs all of the theory and method it can use, but at some point I
would think that we would like to get to the problems that bedevil society.
Ricardo said that the principle problem in political economy was the problem
of income distribution, and I think that it still is, but we never talk
about it or rarely even mention it.
                            Harry L. Cook
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Mearman" <ajmearman@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <pkt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 5:55 PM
Subject: Re: Method


> Harry,
>
> Are you suggesting that theorists don't have method?
> Surely theory presupposes method? Therefore, it's
> perfectly appropriate for this list to discuss method,
> no? To adopt a common tactic on the list, if we don't
> ever discuss method on the list, aren't we in danger
> of falling foul of Keynes' criticism of Tinbergen that
> he was too eager to get on with the job without
> thinking about whether the job was worth doing (to
> paraphrase loosely CW XIV); and by extension, that he
> did so without knowing *how* to get on with this job?
>
> Obviously the key is to be clear on method, but not to
> get stuck there. You can hardly accuse this list of
> focusing on method: it's very much a theory list IMO.
>
> Regards,
>
> Andrew.
>
> --- "Harry L. Cook" <hlc710@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Am I incorrect that PKT is exclusively about method
> > and never beyond that to defining the economic
> > problem and analyzing it?
> >                                 Harry L. Cook
> >
> >
>
>
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