Lab Economics as science
Corso di Laurea in Economia e Statistica per le Organizzazioni (CLEST), Dipartimento di Economia e Statistica “Cognetti de Martiis”, Università di Torino
**Everyone who wishes to can participate in the workshop**
“Economics is a collection of models that admits a wide diversity of possibilities, rather than a set of prepackaged conclusions … standard accounts “tend to miss the diversity that exists within the profession, and the many new ideas that are being tried out,” and they often overlook the reality that “one can be part of the mainstream and yet not necessarily hold ‘orthodox’ ideas” (Rodrik 2015). Advanced by a leading and highly influential economist, this qualified defense of economics against accusations of dogmatism might imply that the landscape of the discipline is becoming increasingly fragmented, thereby raising the chances that a pluralist-in-essence economics might join social sciences in the construction of a transdisciplinary perspective on human behavior.
The laboratory introduces students to “economic methodology”, namely to the nature of assumptions, types of reasoning, and forms of explanation used by economists in their research work. The aim is to make students experience the variety of approaches populating the discipline and induce them to reflect upon the desirability of introducing further diversity within the discipline.
Part 1:
- Foundations of the philosophy of science: understanding how economics has evolved as a science
- How economics rationalize and communicate: the role of models and mathematization in economic science
Part 2:
- Schools of thought: conversation and open-mindedness in economics
- Change in economics: how can economics become a pluralistic science
The lab sessions will be offered as a combination of interactive lectures, condensed in two weeks in February and April, plus workshop activities by students, who will work on short presentations for in-class discussions.
The sessions will offer an introduction to principles in the philosophy of science and in current issues in economics and methodology, and students are required to go through the readings and participate in class (with discussions and short exercises).
The lecturers will upload all materials on the Moodle platform page for this course (students are required to register at the link reported at the bottom of the page) to experience the variety of possible perspectives within economics.
At the end of the term, students will prepare and deliver short presentations illustrating each approach’s specificities (assumptions, types of reasoning, and forms of explanation).
Students will employ the competencies acquired during the seminar for the analysis of a specific school of thought, approach, or perspective, starting from a specific work (a published article or chapter in a book, to be selected under teachers’ supervision) in economics or economic methodology.
They will work in small teams. They will prepare a powerpoint presentation and discuss its contents with students of the laboratory, making the case for the legitimacy and relevance, in a pluralistic disciplinary environment, of the specific school of thought selected for the analysis.
Assessment focuses on students’ ability to understand topics and approaches dealt with in the laboratory, their ability to master the terminology, to use appropriate techniques of reasoning, to identify theoretical conceptual connections and correctly analyze issues related to economics as a science.
The workshop will be held on the following days (first week; a second one will follow in April):
- Tuesday 24th, 2-4 PM, Aula verde Corso Regina Margherita 60
- Wednesday 25th, 2-4 PM, Aula verde Corso Regina Margherita 60
- Thursday 26th, 2-4 PM, Room C3 Campus Luigi Einaudi
- Friday 27th, 2-4 PM, Room C3 Campus Luigi Einaudi
Also online at https://unito.webex.com/meet/mario.cedrini
Teacher’s website: https://sites.google.com/view/danielleguizzo
Mario Cedrini