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Specialization, fragmentation, and pluralism in economics

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  • John B. Davis

Abstract

This paper investigates whether specialisation in research is causing economics to become an increasingly fragmented and diverse discipline with a continually rising number of niche-based research programmes and a declining role for dominant cross-science research programmes. It opens by framing the issue in terms of centrifugal and centripetal forces operating on research in economics, and then distinguishes descriptive from normative pluralism. It reviews recent research regarding the JEL code and economics’ J. B. Clark Award that points towards rising specialisation and fragmentation of research in economics. It then reviews five related arguments that might explain increasing specialisation and fragmentation in economics: (i) Smith’s early division of labour view, (ii) Kuhn’s later thinking about the importance of specialisation, (iii) Heiner’s behavioral burden of knowledge argument, (iv) Ross’s innovation-diffusion analysis and Arthur’s theory of technological change as determinants of specialisation in science, and (v) the effects of space and culture or internationalisation on innovation appropriation. The paper then discusses what descriptive pluralism implies about normative pluralism, and makes a case for multidisciplinarity over interdisciplinarity as a basis for arguments promoting pluralism. The paper closes with brief comments on the issue of specialisation and pluralism in the wider world outside economics and science.

Suggested Citation

  • John B. Davis, 2019. "Specialization, fragmentation, and pluralism in economics," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(2), pages 271-293, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:271-293
    DOI: 10.1080/09672567.2018.1555604
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    Cited by:

    1. Sergio Mariotti, 2022. "The economics–engineering nexus: response to the commentaries," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 49(1), pages 1-29, March.
    2. Muriel Dal Pont Legrand & Martina Cioni & Eugenio Petrovich & Alberto Baccini, 2022. "Is There Cross-fertilization in Macroeconomics? A Quantitative Exploration of the Interactions between DSGE and Macro Agent-Based Models," GREDEG Working Papers 2022-25, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    3. Ananyin, O., 2024. "Economic science: The challenge of fragmentation," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 63(2), pages 193-210.
    4. Jussi T. S. Heikkila, 2022. "Journal of Economic Literature codes classification system (JEL)," Papers 2207.06076, arXiv.org.
    5. Linda L. Price, 2022. "Folds in historical time and possible worlds for the marketing discipline: A commentary," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 12(3), pages 162-167, December.
    6. Turan Yay, 2021. "Method and scope in Joseph A. Schumpeter's economics: a pluralist perspective," Post-Print hal-03374881, HAL.
    7. Ambrosino, Angela & Cedrini, Mario & B. Davis, John, 2022. "Today’s economics: One, No One and One Hundred Thousand," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202215, University of Turin.
    8. Alexandre Truc & Muriel Dal Pont Legrand, 2024. "Agent-Based Models: Impact and Interdisciplinary Influences in Economics," GREDEG Working Papers 2024-19, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    9. Muriel Dal-Pont Legrand & Martina Cioni & Eugenio Petrovich & Alberto Baccini, 2022. "Is there cross-fertilization in macroeconomics? . Version 2," Working Papers halshs-03741035, HAL.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • B20 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - General
    • B41 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - Economic Methodology
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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