Income Inequality Economic Disparities and the Middle Class in Affluent Countries

Income Inequality Economic Disparities and the Middle Class in Affluent Countries -

"Is There Progress in Economics?" is a scholarly book edited by Stephan Boehm, Christian Gehrke, Heinz D. Kurz, and Richard Sturn, first published in 2002. It explores the question of whether and how economics, as a discipline, progresses over time—comparable to progress in the natural sciences.

Overview and Themes:

The book is a collection of essays by leading economists and philosophers of economics, aiming to critically assess the notion of "progress" in the field. It doesn't take for granted that economics evolves in a linear or cumulative way. Instead, it examines:

• Theoretical advancements: Have economic theories improved in explanatory power or predictive accuracy?

• Methodological debates: How do methods in economics influence perceptions of progress?

• Paradigm shifts vs. accumulation: Is progress in economics Kuhnian (revolutionary paradigm shifts) or more incremental?

• Comparison with natural sciences: Can economics achieve the same kind of objectivity and progress as physics or biology?