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Situational determinism revisited: scientific research programmes in economics twenty years on

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  • John Nightingale

Abstract

Spiro Latsis (Latsis 1972) applied Imre Lakatos' methodology of scientific research programmes (MSRP) to economics. In that paper he proposed a distinction between 'situational determinism' and alternative theory. His distinction is effective at highlighting the importance of determinism in economics, the drive of economists to create fully deterministic models, at least up to a probability distribution. But he has been rightly criticized for arguing an alternative on grounds incompatible with Lakatos' MSRP. Latsis, at least implicitly, had hoped for the development of the alternative for which he argued. My argument is that Latsis' expectations have not been fulfilled. His alternative scientific research programme (SRP), that of the behaviouralists, has not developed as he expected. However, a different and theoretically progressive SRP has developed, one that includes most if not all of what might have been the behaviouralist SRP. This is the evolutionary SRP (ESRP). This SRP is defined in a manner that neatly sections off current orthodoxy as incompatible with it. The stage is thus set for a contest between SRPs.

Suggested Citation

  • John Nightingale, 1994. "Situational determinism revisited: scientific research programmes in economics twenty years on," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 1(2), pages 233-252.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jecmet:v:1:y:1994:i:2:p:233-252
    DOI: 10.1080/13501789400000019
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    Cited by:

    1. Stavros A. Drakopoulos & Anastassios D. Karayiannis, 2005. "A Review of Kuhnian and Lakatosian «Explanations» in Economics," History of Economic Ideas, Fabrizio Serra Editore, Pisa - Roma, vol. 13(2), pages 51-73.
    2. Marcelo Resende & Rodrigo M. Zeidan, 2007. "Lionel Robbins: A Methodological Reappraisal," CESifo Working Paper Series 2165, CESifo.
    3. Powell, John H. & Wakeley, Timothy M., 2003. "Evolutionary concepts and business economics: Towards a normative approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 153-161, February.
    4. John Finch & Nicola Dinnei, 2001. "Capturing Knightian Advantages of Large Business Organisations Through Group Decision-making Processes," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(3), pages 379-403.

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