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Strategy in History and (versus?) in Economics: A Review of Lawrence Freedman's Strategy: A History

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  • Avinash Dixit

Abstract

This essay reviews Lawrence Freedman's book "Strategy: A History". The main themes—definitions, strategies in war, business, politics, and revolutions—are overviewed. The value of game-theoretic thinking for practical strategy is assessed. A critical discussion of some concepts and dichotomies emphasized by Freedman, e.g., strategy is governed by the starting point, not the end point, and of the role of stories and scripts in strategy, follows. (JEL A11, A12, C70, D74)

Suggested Citation

  • Avinash Dixit, 2014. "Strategy in History and (versus?) in Economics: A Review of Lawrence Freedman's Strategy: A History," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 52(4), pages 1119-1134, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jeclit:v:52:y:2014:i:4:p:1119-34
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/jel.52.4.1119
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John C. Harsanyi, 1968. "Games with Incomplete Information Played by "Bayesian" Players Part II. Bayesian Equilibrium Points," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(5), pages 320-334, January.
    2. Ingela Alger & Jörgen W. Weibull, 2013. "Homo Moralis—Preference Evolution Under Incomplete Information and Assortative Matching," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 81(6), pages 2269-2302, November.
    3. Vincent P. Crawford & Miguel A. Costa-Gomes & Nagore Iriberri, 2013. "Structural Models of Nonequilibrium Strategic Thinking: Theory, Evidence, and Applications," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 51(1), pages 5-62, March.
    4. John C. Harsanyi, 1967. "Games with Incomplete Information Played by "Bayesian" Players, I-III Part I. The Basic Model," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(3), pages 159-182, November.
    5. Burkhard Schipper, 2014. "Unawareness - A Gentle Introduction to both the Literature and the Special Issue," Working Papers 145, University of California, Davis, Department of Economics.
    6. Basu, Kaushik, 1990. "On the Non-existence of a Rationality Definition for Extensive Games," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 19(1), pages 33-44.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dag Øivind Madsen & Kåre Slåtten, 2019. "Examining the Emergence and Evolution of Blue Ocean Strategy through the Lens of Management Fashion Theory," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-23, January.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • C70 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - General
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions

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