Ceteris paribus conditions: materiality and the application of economic theories

Boumans, Marcel; Morgan, Mary S.

doi:10.1080/13501780010022794

Cited by 53 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Whereas in experiments other intervening elements are sealed off by experimental controls, models use assumptions to neutralize the effect of other things (Mäki 2005, p. 308). Indeed, the idea of models as ''laboratories of economic theorists'' has evoked considerable interest among economists and philosophers of economics (e.g., Lucas 1980;Mäki 1992;Cartwright 1999;Boumans and Morgan 2001;Morgan 2003Morgan , 2005.…”

Section: Models As Isolationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolating Representations Versus Credible Constructions? Economic Modelling in Theory and Practice

Knuuttila

2009

Erkenn

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper examines two recent approaches to the nature and functioning of economic models: models as isolating representations and models as credible constructions. The isolationist view conceives of economic models as surrogate systems that isolate some of the causal mechanisms or tendencies of their respective target systems, while the constructionist approach treats them rather like pure constructions or fictional entities that nevertheless license different kinds of inferences. I will argue that whereas the isolationist view is still tied to the representationalist understanding of models that takes the model-target dyad as the basic unit of analysis, the constructionist perspective can better accommodate the way we actually acquire knowledge through them. Using the example of Tobin's ultra-Keynesian model I will show how many of the epistemic characteristics of modelling tend to go unrecognised if too much focus is placed on the model-target dyad.

show abstract

Section: Models As Isolationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolating Representations Versus Credible Constructions? Economic Modelling in Theory and Practice

Knuuttila

2009

Erkenn

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this section we consider the experiments performed on the constructed model, deferring discussion of the model-challenging experiments which belong to the construction stage to section 6. Note that we do not consider it necessary to distinguish between Haavelmo and the Cowles writers, as Boumans (2003: 314) does, and that by homogenizing the econometricians and the theorist Patinkin we merge some of the boxes in the Boumans and Morgan table. Tinbergen's equations reproduced the standard experiment of multiple regression; in the table of Boumans and Morgan (2001) this appears as 'indirect control (statistical)'. Yule (1899: 251) described how a causal 'factor' is allowed to vary subject to the condition that the other factors are 'kept constant'.…”

Section: Individual-experiments and Market-experimentsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…But to avoid misunderstanding it may be best to mention two prominent but -for our purposes -irrelevant themes. The starting point for the enterprise is the contrast, going back at least to Mill, between the active experimentation practised in many sciences and the 'passive observation' practised in economics; this side of Haavelmo's work is emphasized by Boumans and Morgan (2001) and Boumans (2003). Haavelmo was aware of Fisher's famous book The Design of Experiments (1935) which treated experiments in which 'things' are manipulated from a statistical viewpoint.…”

Section: Individual-experiments and Market-experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mäki (2005) and Morgan (2005) -but the experiments are usually 'lab experiments' and, while there are points of contact with the present paper, the basic concerns are quite different. Put another way, the subject matter of the present paper can be located in the boxes contained in Table 1 of Boumans and Morgan (2001) and interpreted as a microscopic study of what is in those boxes but the table's authors are more interested in what distinguishes those boxes from other boxes! There is a more relevant study of the 'experimental' in Boumans (2003) -indeed there is some overlap in the discussion of the system of equations approach -Haavelmo and Cowles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The experiment in macroeconometrics

Aldrich¹,

Staszewska²

2007

Journal of Economic Methodology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Where the laboratory economist has to enforce these different types of conditions (usually in the design stage) to ensure an adequate experimental procedure, the model experimentalist can simply make the necessary assumptions so that the model will be tractable. (A fuller analysis of controls is given in Boumans and Morgan, 2001 This difference in experimental control procedures may be aptly stated as follows: the laboratory scientist creates an artificial environment within a real world while the mathematical modeler creates an artificial world. (Indeed, Boumans, this volume, shows that this latter idea is now the selfconscious aim of some economists.)…”

Section: Comparison: Model Experiments and Laboratory Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Model-Based Reasoning

Magnani¹,

Nersessian²

2002

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 A C.I.P. record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. Ali rights reservedNo part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mecbanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without written permission frorn the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work.vii viii models are retrieved or constructed on the basis of potentially satisfying salient constraints of the target domain. Moreover, in the modeling process, various forms of abstraction are used. Evaluation and adaptation take place in light of structural, causal, and/or functional constraints. Model simulation can be used to produce new states and enable evaluation of behaviors and other factors.The various contributions of the book are written by interdisciplinary researchers who are active in the area of creative reasoning in science and technology: the most recent results and achievements about the topics above are illustrated in detail in the papers.The conference, and thus indirectly this book, was made possible through the generous financial support of the MURST (Italian Ministry of the University), University of Pavia, CARIPLO (Cassa di Risparmio delle Provincie Lombarde) and of Georgia Institute of Technology. Their support is gratefully acknowledged.The editors express their appreciation to the other co-chair of the conference K. Knoespel (Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA), and to the members of the Scientific Committee for their suggestions and assistance: A. Bostrom,

show abstract

Ceteris paribus conditions: materiality and the application of economic theories

Cited by 53 publications

References 13 publications

Isolating Representations Versus Credible Constructions? Economic Modelling in Theory and Practice

Isolating Representations Versus Credible Constructions? Economic Modelling in Theory and Practice

The experiment in macroeconometrics

Model-Based Reasoning

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About