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Tullock on the organization of scientific inquiry

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  • Jac C. Heckelman

    (Wake Forest University)

Abstract

In (Tullock, The organization of inquiry, Duke University Press, Durham, NC, 1966), Gordon Tullock sets out to establish how knowledge is developed and dispersed in science, to such a high degree of reliability, despite the lack of formal organizational structure. He contrasts this against the unreliability of the “non-sciences”. In this essay, I review his perspective and consider the validity of his proposed reforms.

Suggested Citation

  • Jac C. Heckelman, 2017. "Tullock on the organization of scientific inquiry," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:copoec:v:28:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s10602-016-9209-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10602-016-9209-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Allan Meltzer & Scott Richard, 1983. "Rejoinder to Gordon Tullock," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 423-426, January.
    2. Bruce Caldwell, 2008. "Gordon Tullock’s The Organization of Inquiry: A critical appraisal," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 135(1), pages 23-34, April.
    3. B.D. McCullough, 2009. "Open Access Economics Journals and the Market for Reproducible Economic Research," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 117-126, March.
    4. Mayer, Thomas, 1980. "Economics as a Hard Science: Realistic Goal or Wishful Thinking?," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 18(2), pages 165-178, April.
    5. Gordon Tullock, 2003. "The Origin Rent-Seeking Concept," International Journal of Business and Economics, School of Management Development, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan, vol. 2(1), pages 1-8, April.
    6. Breit, William, 1987. "Creating the "Virginia School": Charlottesville as an Academic Environment in the 1960s," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 25(4), pages 645-657, October.
    7. Wayne E. Ferson & Sergei Sarkissian & Timothy T. Simin, 2003. "Spurious Regressions in Financial Economics?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 58(4), pages 1393-1413, August.
    8. repec:bla:jfinan:v:58:y:2003:i:4:p:1393-1414 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Allan Meltzer & Scott Richard, 1983. "Tests of a rational theory of the size of government," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 403-418, January.
    10. Hubbard, Raymond & Vetter, Daniel E., 1996. "An empirical comparison of published replication research in accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 153-164, February.
    11. Gordon Tullock, 1988. "Rent Seeking And Tax Reform," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 6(4), pages 37-47, October.
    12. Gordon Tullock, 1983. "Further tests of a rational theory of the size of government," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 419-421, January.
    13. Krueger, Anne O, 1974. "The Political Economy of the Rent-Seeking Society," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 64(3), pages 291-303, June.
    14. David Levy & Sandra Peart, 2012. "Tullock on motivated inquiry: expert-induced uncertainty disguised as risk," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 163-180, July.
    15. Hillman, Arye L & Katz, Eliakim, 1984. "Risk-Averse Rent Seekers and the Social Cost of Monopoly Power," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 94(373), pages 104-110, March.
    16. Daniel S. Hamermesh, 1994. "Facts and Myths about Refereeing," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 8(1), pages 153-163, Winter.
    17. Juin-jen Chang & Ching-chong Lai, 2001. "Is It Worthwhile to Pay Referees?," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 68(2), pages 457-463, October.
    18. Todd Sandler, 2015. "Collective action: fifty years later," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 164(3), pages 195-216, September.
    19. David Laband & John Sophocleus, 1988. "The social cost of rent-seeking: First estimates," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 58(3), pages 269-275, September.
    20. Gordon Tullock, 1993. "Are Scientists Different?," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 20(4/5), pages 90-106, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Methodology; Economics; Science; Knowledge;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A1 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics
    • B2 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925

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