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Identity, Capabilities, and Changing Economics John B. Davis (Marquette University, Wisconsin and Universiteit van Amsterdam)

Identity, Capabilities, and Changing Economics By John B. Davis (Marquette University, Wisconsin and Universiteit van Amsterdam)

Identity, Capabilities, and Changing Economics by John B. Davis (Marquette University, Wisconsin and Universiteit van Amsterdam)


$33.99
Condition - Very Good
Only 1 left

Summary

Upending traditional mainstream view, this book applies identity analysis to economics to show the limitations of Homo economicus. It distinguishes different forms of people's social identities and advances policies for combating social inequality. It also shows how economics is value-entangled and examines forces influencing change in economics.

Identity, Capabilities, and Changing Economics Summary

Identity, Capabilities, and Changing Economics: Reflexive, Adaptive, Socially Embedded Individuals by John B. Davis (Marquette University, Wisconsin and Universiteit van Amsterdam)

Mainstream economics assumes economic agents act and make decisions to maximize their utility. This model of economic behavior, based on rational choice theory, has come under increasing attack in economics because it does not accurately reflect the way people behave and reason. The shift towards a more realistic account of economic agents has been mostly associated with the rise of behavioral economics, which views individuals through the lens of bounded rationality. Identity, Capabilities, and Changing Economics goes further and uses identity analysis to build on this critique of the utility conception of individuals, arguing it should be replaced by a conception of economic agents in an uncertain world as socially embedded and identified with their capabilities. Written by one of the world's leading philosophers of economics, the book develops a new approach to economics' theory of the individual, explaining individuals as adaptive and reflexive rather than utility maximizing.

Identity, Capabilities, and Changing Economics Reviews

'This book significantly narrows the gap in Amartya Sen's capability approach between what agency is and what agency does. Or the gap between who people are and what people choose. It is therefore not only an important elaboration of agency for the capability approach, but, at the same time, the book invites social economists to engage with the notion of capabilities. It is therefore one of those rare books that genuinely try to engage with different economic approaches with the purpose of refining both.' Irene van Staveren, Professor of Pluralist Development Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam
'Economics today is still dominated by utility-maximizing 'economic man.' Despite drawing attention to his errors, the new behavioral economics keeps utility maximization as a baseline concept. John Davis calls for a fundamentally different approach. It has long been recognized that utility maximization cannot deal with major issues such as the construction of individual identity. Davis develops this critique and points to a constructive alternative. This is a major treatise, addressing the need to build economics on different foundations.' Geoffrey M. Hodgson, Emeritus Professor in Management at Loughborough University London

About John B. Davis (Marquette University, Wisconsin and Universiteit van Amsterdam)

John B. Davis is Professor Emeritus of Economics: Marquette University, University of Amsterdam. He is the author of Keynes's Philosophical Development, The Theory of the Individual in Economics, and Individuals and Identity in Economics, and a former co-author of the Journal of Economic Methodology.

Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. The Failed Pathway and Exit Strategies: Introduction; 1. Objectivity in economics and the problem of the individual; 2. The untenability of the unembedded Homo economicus; 3. The 'reconciliation problem' and an individuality reconstruction problem; Part II. Rebuilding the Individual Conception: Introduction; 4. Adaptive reflexive individuals: a capabilities conception of the person; 5. A general theory of social economic stratification: stigmatization, exclusion, and capability shortfalls; 6. Roads not taken yet to be taken: enhancing capabilities; Part III. Value and Subjectivity: Introduction; 7. Economics as a normative discipline: value dis-entanglement in an objective economics; 8. Individual realization? Rethinking subjectivity in economics; 9. Change in and changing economics; References; Index.

Additional information

GOR013911577
9781009438254
1009438255
Identity, Capabilities, and Changing Economics: Reflexive, Adaptive, Socially Embedded Individuals by John B. Davis (Marquette University, Wisconsin and Universiteit van Amsterdam)
Used - Very Good
Paperback
Cambridge University Press
2024-02-01
304
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Identity, Capabilities, and Changing Economics