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The Role of Experiments for the Development of Economic Theories

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  • Schmidt, Klaus M.

Abstract

Economic experiments interact with economic theories in various ways. First of all they are used to test economic theories. However, they can neither confirm nor falsify them in a strict sense. They rather inform us about the range of applicability, the robustness and the predictive power of a theory. Furthermore, economic experiments discover and isolate phenomena and challenge economic theorists to explain them. Finally, many economic experiments are “material†models. They are used to analyse and predict how changes in the environment affect economic outcomes. However, they cannot offer an explanation for what we observe. This has to be provided by economic theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Schmidt, Klaus M., 2009. "The Role of Experiments for the Development of Economic Theories," Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems 252, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bonn, University of Mannheim, University of Munich.
    • Handle: RePEc:trf:wpaper:252
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    1. Fehr, Ernst & Schmidt, Klaus M., 2010. "On inequity aversion: A reply to Binmore and Shaked," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 101-108, January.
    2. Axel Ockenfels, 2009. "Marktdesign und Experimentelle Wirtschaftsforschung," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 10(s1), pages 31-53, May.
    3. Konstantin Chatziathanasiou & Svenja Hippel & Michael Kurschilgen, 2022. "Does the Threat of Overthrow Discipline the Elites? Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 51(2), pages 289-320.
    4. Gianfranco Giulioni & Marcello Silvestri & Edgardo Bucciarelli, 2017. "Firms’ Finance in an Experimentally Microfounded Agent-Based Macroeconomic Model," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 68(2), pages 259-320, May.
    5. Dorothea Kübler, 2010. "Experimental Practices in Economics: Performativity and the Creation of Phenomena," CIG Working Papers SP II 2010-01, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin (WZB), Research Unit: Competition and Innovation (CIG).
    6. Konstantin Chatziathanasiou & Svenja Hippel & Michael Kurschilgen, 2020. "Do rights to resistance discipline the elites? An experiment on the threat of overthrow," Munich Papers in Political Economy 08, Munich School of Politics and Public Policy and the School of Management at the Technical University of Munich.
    7. Marc Piazolo, 2015. "Fairness Dominating Human Behavior in Ultimatum Bargaining GameInitiative," Proceedings- 11th International Conference on Mangement, Enterprise and Benchmarking (MEB 2015),, Óbuda University, Keleti Faculty of Business and Management.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economic experiments; economic theories; falsification; confirmation; phenomena; models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B41 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - Economic Methodology
    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General

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