scholarly journals Mark Blaug's unrealistic crusade for realistic economics

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uskali Mäki
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
The Other ◽  
Economic Science ◽  
Economic Modelling ◽  
Trade Off

Mark Blaug's normative methodology of economics is an attempt to articulate certain intuitions about how economic science could be improved by making it more "realistic". I discuss two such articulations, one in terms of falsificationist principles, the other in terms of an alleged trade-off between relevance and mathematical rigour. My conclusion is that Blaug's methodology is itself unrealistic, both descriptively and normatively. His (well intended) methodological prescriptions for the improvement of economics are not based on a systematic, consistent, descriptively adequate, and normatively viable account. I suggest that Blaug's intuitions can be developed into a more realistic account by incorporating the analysis of two further topics: economic modelling and the institutions of academic research.

Pesquisas sobre Currículos e Culturas: tensões, movimentos e criações

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Patrícia Silva
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Research Group ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Art Music ◽  
The Other ◽  
Educational Policies ◽  
Cultural Spaces ◽  
Teacher Training Programs ◽  
Do It Yourself

The book Research on Curricula and Cultures: tensions, movements and creations, organized by Marlucy Alves Paraíso and Maria Patrícia Silva, it consists of 17 chapters, one of which is an interesting work by a Canadian scholar who investigates state anti-feminism. The other chapters bring results from 16 researches developed by researchers from the Study and Research Group on Curricula and Cultures (GECC), created and coordinated by Marlucy Alves Paraíso, which has researchers from several Brazilian universities and states. The articles in the book combine the post-critical perspectives used to investigate curricula and cultures in their different nuances, addressing silences, power relations, modes of subjectivation and the movements that prevent their fixity. The book brings research results that discuss the possibilities of creating possibilities at school and in other cultural spaces that also have curricula and develop pedagogies, such as: cyberspace, city, health care programs, teacher training programs, educational policies, etc. In addition, curricula are investigated with emphasis on different practices and aspects: childhood, art, music, dance, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, corporality, politics, with research that also innovates methodologically when operating with openings, experiments, do-it-yourself and compositions in different ways. to research curricula without rigidity, although with the necessary rigor in academic research. O livro reconhece de diferentes modos as possibilidades de conexões entre currículos e culturas, e mostra movimentos capazes de operar transgressões apostando em uma cultura porvir.

The Price of Truth: Reciprocity, Giving, and Generosity in the Philosophy of René Descartes

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 147-170
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Rene Descartes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Other ◽  
Economic Science ◽  
Homo Oeconomicus ◽  
Intellectual Activity ◽  
René Descartes ◽  
Economic Thinking ◽  
Selfish Interest

The article provides a comparison of the concept of homo œconomicus with the core theses of René Descartes’ moral philosophy. The first section draws on the work of the contemporary Western philosopher Anselm Jappe in which Descartes’ philosophy is held to be the cornerstone of the established view and current scientific definitions of homo œconomicus as the fundamental and indispensable agent of capitalistic relations. As opposed to this “common sense” position in the modern social sciences, the second section of the article builds upon Pierre Bourdieu’s Anthropologie économique (2017) to demystify the notion of homo œconomicus. The article then examines some aspects of modern philosophical anthropology that show odd traces of Descartes’ thinking and that are regularly applied in economic science as well as in the critique of economic thinking as such. These are the concepts of mutuality, giving, exchange and generosity, and they are regarded as central to the philosopher’s moral doctrine.The author concludes that the philosophical doctrine of generosity has very little in common with the bourgeois ideology of utility which implies an instrumental relationship between subjects: in Caretesian moral philosophy the Other is neither an object of influence nor a means to achieve someone’s personal goals nor a windowless monad. Generosity certainly has its economic aspects, but these do not include accumulating wealth in the bourgeois sense. It is more in the realm of the aristocratic practice of making dispensations. All throughout his life Decartes may be viewed as exhibiting a peculiar kind of nobility in which the desire to give, endow and sacrifice outweighs any selfish interest. The vigorous pursuit of well-being gives way to a quest for the leisure required to pursue intellectual activity, and care for oneself does not preclude attending to and loving the Other, whatever form it may take.

scholarly journals Black Hole Algorithm for Sustainable Design of Counterfort Retaining Walls

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor Yepes ◽  
José V. Martí ◽  
José García
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Sustainable Design ◽  
Retaining Walls ◽  
The Other ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Construction Company ◽  
Geometric Variables ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Black Hole Algorithm

The optimization of the cost and CO 2 emissions in earth-retaining walls is of relevance, since these structures are often used in civil engineering. The optimization of costs is essential for the competitiveness of the construction company, and the optimization of emissions is relevant in the environmental impact of construction. To address the optimization, black hole metaheuristics were used, along with a discretization mechanism based on min–max normalization. The stability of the algorithm was evaluated with respect to the solutions obtained; the steel and concrete values obtained in both optimizations were analyzed. Additionally, the geometric variables of the structure were compared. Finally, the results obtained were compared with another algorithm that solved the problem. The results show that there is a trade-off between the use of steel and concrete. The solutions that minimize CO 2 emissions prefer the use of concrete instead of those that optimize the cost. On the other hand, when comparing the geometric variables, it is seen that most remain similar in both optimizations except for the distance between buttresses. When comparing with another algorithm, the results show a good performance in optimization using the black hole algorithm.

Identifying opportunities for value chain development in the Kenyan coffee sector

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emerta Aragie
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Export Subsidy ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cash Crop ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Cash Crops ◽  
Standard Value ◽  
Coffee Sector ◽  
Productivity Gains

By developing a model that describes the Kenyan coffee value chain, this study evaluates opportunities emanating from four scenarios representing productivity gains in the various value chain stages of the coffee sector and additional three scenarios reflecting shifts in market situations. Results show that productivity-enhancing policies have stronger effects on coffee output and export performance if they target the milling stage of the value chain. Export subsidy and favourable external marketing conditions also have stronger effects, distributed comparably across the various value chain stages. We, however, found that these gains in the coffee sector come at the expense of other cash crops such as cotton, tea, sugar and tobacco. The approach followed in this study is relevant as this trade-off between coffee and the other cash crop sectors may not be visibly shown using standard value chain approaches.

Practical Aspects of Propulsion Shaft Alignment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyriakos Avgouleas ◽  
Emmanouil Sarris ◽  
George Gougoulidis
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Numerical Model ◽  
High Speed ◽  
The Other ◽  
Technical Literature ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Fea Model ◽  
Shaft Alignment ◽  
Alignment Strategy ◽  
Potential Damage

The economical and operational implications of poor alignment are indisputable for the propulsion shafting system of a commercial vessel. This holds true for naval vessels as well, although far less documented in the technical literature. This paper addresses some of the challenges associated with the proper alignment of a high-speed naval craft, which has been in service for many years. Laser bore-sighting was performed on a Guided Missile Fast Patrol Boat resting on a docking cradle. The measured bearing offsets were input to a FEA model of the shafting system to calculate bearing reactions and detect potential misalignment issues. Subsequent decisions regarding corrective measures take into account the results computed by the numerical model, experience from sister ships, the available documentation from the building yard and several other factors which are discussed in the paper. The solutions proposed are targeted towards a balanced trade-off between cost effectiveness and out-of-service time on one hand, and the risk of potential damage from misalignment on the other hand, which would seriously disrupt the ship’s operational availability. Practical aspects and lessons identified in the process are also presented, which demonstrate the distinct differences in alignment strategy of a high-speed naval craft compared to a typical commercial vessel.

scholarly journals Education and Energy Intensity: Simple Economic Modelling and Preliminary Empirical Results

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Sequeira ◽  
Marcelo Santos
Keyword(s):  
Gross Domestic Product ◽  
Economic Model ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Intensity ◽  
The Other ◽  
Economic Modelling ◽  
Empirical Application ◽  
Primary Schooling ◽  
Simple Economic

The ratio of energy use to Gross Domestic Product (defined as energy intensity) is a major determinant of environmental hazard and an indicator of eco-efficiency. This paper explains why education can have an effect in reducing the energy intensity thus affecting eco-efficiency. We devise a stylized economic model with simple and widely accepted assumptions that highlights the role of education in decreasing energy intensity worldwide. In an empirical application that is robust to the features of the data, we show that primary schooling contributes to a decrease in energy intensity which has a very significant effect, even accounting for the other well-known determinants of energy intensity. Additionally, when schooling is taken into account, income is no longer a negative determinant of energy intensity.

COMPUTING THE RUPTURE DEGREE IN COMPOSITE GRAPHS

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (03) ◽  
pp. 311-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
AYSUN AYTAC ◽  
ZEYNEP NIHAN ODABAS
Keyword(s):  
Complete Graph ◽  
Connected Graph ◽  
The Other ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Number Of Components ◽  
Np Complete ◽  
Work Done ◽  
Better Than

The rupture degree of an incomplete connected graph G is defined by [Formula: see text] where w(G - S) is the number of components of G - S and m(G - S) is the order of a largest component of G - S. For the complete graph Kn, rupture degree is defined as 1 - n. This parameter can be used to measure the vulnerability of a graph. Rupture degree can reflect the vulnerability of graphs better than or independent of the other parameters. To some extent, it represents a trade-off between the amount of work done to damage the network and how badly the network is damaged. Computing the rupture degree of a graph is NP-complete. In this paper, we give formulas for the rupture degree of composition of some special graphs and we consider the relationships between the rupture degree and other vulnerability parameters.

scholarly journals Partner Uncertainty and the Dynamic Boundary of the Firm

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Hellmann ◽  
Veikko Thiele
Keyword(s):  
Asset Specificity ◽  
The Other ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Specific Investments ◽  
Dynamic Boundary ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Ex Ante

We develop a new theory of the dynamic boundary of the firm where asset owners may want to change partners ex post. We identify a fundamental trade-off between (i) a “displacement externality” under non-integration, where a partner leaves a relationship even though his benefit is worth less than the loss to the displaced partner, and (ii) a “retention externality” under integration, where a partner inefficiently retains the other. With more asset specificity, displacement externalities matter more and retention externalities less, so that integration becomes more attractive. Wealth can resolve ex post inefficient partner arrangements, but may weaken ex ante incentives for specific investments. (JEL D21, D23, D25, D62, D86, G31)

The Other Danger... Scholasticism in Academic Research

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-419
Author(s):  
Lawrence M. Mead
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
The Other

The effect of leguminous plant species onCallosobruchus maculatus(Coleoptera: Bruchidae) and its egg parasitoidUscana lariophaga(Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. van Huis ◽  
M. de Rooy
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Callosobruchus Maculatus ◽  
Egg Parasitoid ◽  
The Other ◽  
Leguminous Plant ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Storage Pest

AbstractThe performance of the egg parasitoidUscana lariophagaSteffan was studied when reared on eggs of the bruchid storage pest,Callosobruchus maculatus(Fabricius) developing in seeds of cowpea, chickpea and pigeonpea. The beetle laid more and larger eggs on pigeonpea than on cowpea and chickpea, indicating that there was not a trade-off between number and size of the eggs. The bruchid larvae reared on pigeonpea exhibited a longer development time and a higher mortality than those reared on cowpea and chickpea. The resulting males weighed less than those reared on cowpea and chickpea. The trichogrammatidU. lariophagaparasitized more eggs whenC. maculatuswas reared on chickpea than when reared on the other hosts. Parasitoid larvae developed slowest and had the highest mortality in eggs ofC. maculatusreared on pigeonpea compared to those reared on cowpea and chickpea; the sex ratio (% of females) of the resulting adults was also higher. The high mortality and long development time ofC. maculatusreared on pigeonpea indicated that this legume was less favourable toC. maculatusthan chickpea or cowpea. This was probably also true for the parasitoid since the mortality was higher and development longer in eggs ofC. maculatusreared on pigeonpea compared to those reared on cowpea and chickpea. Therefore, when host eggs were larger and of lower nutritional quality, the proportion of female egg parasitoids was greater.

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