Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Oikos Nomikos

In a 1997 article titled " How did Economics get that way and what way did it get? ", Robert M. Solow concludes by saying:

" Oscar Wilde described a fox hunt as the unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible. Perhaps here we have the overeducated in pursuit of the unknowable. But it sure beats the alternatives. "

The article describes how the study of Economics has evolved over the past few decades into its current model-centric form. It suggests that the shifting of the centre of gravity of research in Economics from Britain to the United States could be one possible explanation. It also involves interesting comparisons of Economics with other sciences, mainly Physics and Biology.

The process of learning Economics has served in showing how wide-spread and fascinating its applications are. It is almost seems like there is nothing that falls outside the scope of Economics, that the scope of this science that started out as the science of household management, is infinite!

14 comments:

Gaurav said...

Dear Padma,

Probably you are right, but I would rather say that people prefer to think non-conventionally now a days.
If you talk paricular field the only one I can come up with is the interdiciplinary field. Now all the sciences uses developments made in other sciences, same is the case with Economics. Though it has a special virtue that it deals with real life situations but even that is based on some assumptions like Physics.
I think evolution of computers is the main reason for these developments.
And as far as Queen of Sciences is concerned there is one and the only one "MATHEMATICS"

skohari said...

lady and gentleman,
Management it is. coz all the answers start with, "Depends.." ask me why...

Gaurav said...

Ai BMS,
Management is not a Science, for me it is how to manage people/resources.

SO IT IS Common Sense.
Though I agree that Common Sense is not so common.

Anonymous said...

I regularly read your blogs. Sometimes I like them sometimes I don't.

I am "indifferent" to this one but I liked "ajji" very much.
I was concerned that music soothes you no more but after reading your blog on one Kannada song I felt relieved.

In the beginning I knew nothing about you but now the picture is getting completed; Kannadiga, probably introvert and an Economist!!
I hope I will continue to know about you more and more.

Gaurav said...

Can't say anything to Imran

:)

Anonymous said...

Hmm.. suggested reading:
“Why Are Not Economists As Important As Garbage Men?” by David Colander

--Rijo.

Unknown said...

A wag: What is Economics ?
An Economist: It is what Economist's do!

A Wag: What is the Difference between an Economist and a Meteorologist ?
An Economist: The Meteorologist is correct some of the time!

Anonymous said...

I am waiting for the next blog. If you don't mind then please write something more about ajji.
Please don't take it otherwise.

Anonymous said...

hey why arent you posting anything?

Padma said...

Keynes once said "Economics is a method, rather than a doctrine, an apparatus of mind, a technique of thinking which enables its possessor to draw correct conclusions." Well, I was on a high the other day about how any real world problem can be analysed using the concepts we have learn in Economics- didn't really mean to say that it is superior to some other science!
CK, Rijo and anonymous, thank you for visiting!!
Anonymous, I had written Ajji when I lost my grandmother in September 2005 and have been learning to come to terms with the loss. It would be difficult for me to write about her at this juncture.
I shall take a break from blogging for about a month. Gotta learn some Economics!!!

unforgiven said...

I coulda sworn I had commented on some post somewhere on this blog, sometime :|

Economics is something like that to me. A feeling of 'I know there is something I should be understanding here, but well..' :)

Padma said...

Unforgiven, thanks for visiting!The mention of Economics does seem to arouse strong sentiments, either positive or negative in almost everyone!

Anonymous said...

HI padama,can u mail me that article at lets_share_stuff_for_fun@yahoo.co.in

Padma said...

Here's where you'll find the article:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3671/is_200510/ai_n15744617