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1 – 10 of over 1000Laura E. Grube and Virgil Henry Storr
Culture shapes economic action and, as such, impacts economic life. Although there is a growing recognition amongst economists that culture matters, there is nothing approaching a…
Abstract
Culture shapes economic action and, as such, impacts economic life. Although there is a growing recognition amongst economists that culture matters, there is nothing approaching a universal agreement on how to incorporate culture into economic analysis. We provide a brief summary of how economists have discussed culture and then argue that Austrian School Economics is particularly well suited to contribute to our understanding of the relationship between culture and economic action. Indeed, Austrian economics has an advantage (1) because of its links to Max Weber’s approach to social science and (2) because of its emphasis on economics as a science of meaning. A Weber-inspired Austrian economics that stresses meaning, we argue, brings a focus on culture to the fore of economic analysis and opens the door for a progressive research program within cultural economics. Austrian economists can and have made significant contributions to our understanding of the relationship between culture and economic action. Moreover, we argue, explorations of the connection between culture and economic action can be a fruitful field of study within Austrian economics.
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It is demonstrated that the Austrian school in economics had verydifferent ideas about the creation and change of social institutions andespecially about the relation of state and…
Abstract
It is demonstrated that the Austrian school in economics had very different ideas about the creation and change of social institutions and especially about the relation of state and market, which is still one of the fundamental problems of economic theory. Menger′s fundamental distinction of pragmatic and organic institutions and Wieser′s contrary model are discussed, followed by the “impossibility theorem” of Mises and the contrary position of Schumpeter. Hayek′s liberation model of society is presented and criticised, and finally Menger′s position is interpreted as one of moderate liberal interventionism.
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The Austrian school developed a specific kind of economic analysis.Mises′ place in this school of thought and his praxeological point ofview is discussed. His philosophical stance…
Abstract
The Austrian school developed a specific kind of economic analysis. Mises′ place in this school of thought and his praxeological point of view is discussed. His philosophical stance and its methodological implications are then considered.
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Peter Boettke, Solomon Stein and Virgil Henry Storr
When Beyond Positivism was published 35 years ago, it presented a compelling case for methodological change in the economics profession. That case remains equally compelling in…
Abstract
When Beyond Positivism was published 35 years ago, it presented a compelling case for methodological change in the economics profession. That case remains equally compelling in the present day as, tragically, economics remains largely without the methodological pluralism at the heart of Beyond Positivism’s message. Among the costs of an environment of methodological myopia are widespread misinterpretations and the diversion of scholars from efforts at economic understanding to methodological wrangling, which we illustrate using the experience of Austrian economics in the 20th century. Beyond Positivism, we suggest, continues to provide the intellectual case for a pluralist discipline of economics, but one that requires complementary institutional reforms to come to fruition.
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Carol A. Adams and Glen Whelan
The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise how future changes in corporate social disclosure (CSD), aimed at improving accountability for corporate performance to key…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise how future changes in corporate social disclosure (CSD), aimed at improving accountability for corporate performance to key stakeholder groups, might be brought about.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the work of the Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises with respect to human (and organisational) action and the work of Leon Festinger and Kurt Lewin with respect to human (and organisational) change, the paper examines how academics and other corporate stakeholders might effect changes in CSD.
Findings
Managers act in a way which maximises their formal happiness (from von Mises) and change occurs following the creation of cognitive dissonance (Festinger) which leads to “unfreezing” (Lewin). Stakeholders can effect change by creating cognitive dissonance. With specific reference to Anglo‐American limited liability and publicly traded corporations, such cognitive dissonance and unfreezing normally involves a perceived threat to profitability.
Research limitations/implications
Research and theorising in corporate social disclosure patterns should take as given: that the managers of Anglo‐American limited liability and publicly traded corporations continue to be strongly encouraged, via both legal and remunerative means, to maximize shareholder wealth; and that this state of affairs significantly influences the information which management choose to disclose. Future research might instead examine and consider means of creating sources of dissonance significant enough to result in managerial concern for change within the constraints imposed on managers of Anglo‐American corporations. Such research might be conducted by engaging with organisations and their stakeholders.
Practical implications
The findings have implications for the manner in which corporate stakeholders act and interrelate with others in order to effect change towards more complete and credible sustainability reports which demonstrate accountability for material impacts to key stakeholder groups.
Originality/value
The paper focuses on how change in corporate behaviour might be brought about given the personal motivations and institutional constraints imposed on the behaviour of corporate actors.
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Nobody concerned with political economy can neglect the history of economic doctrines. Structural changes in the economy and society influence economic thinking and, conversely…
Abstract
Nobody concerned with political economy can neglect the history of economic doctrines. Structural changes in the economy and society influence economic thinking and, conversely, innovative thought structures and attitudes have almost always forced economic institutions and modes of behaviour to adjust. We learn from the history of economic doctrines how a particular theory emerged and whether, and in which environment, it could take root. We can see how a school evolves out of a common methodological perception and similar techniques of analysis, and how it has to establish itself. The interaction between unresolved problems on the one hand, and the search for better solutions or explanations on the other, leads to a change in paradigma and to the formation of new lines of reasoning. As long as the real world is subject to progress and change scientific search for explanation must out of necessity continue.
This paper aims to focus on the local quality of outputs of interest computed by a finite element analysis in linear elasticity.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to focus on the local quality of outputs of interest computed by a finite element analysis in linear elasticity.
Design/methodology/approach
In particular outputs of interest are studied which do not depend linearly on the solution of the problem considered such as the L2‐norm of the stress and the von Mises' stress. The method is based on the concept of error in the constitutive relation.
Findings
The method is illustrated through 2D test examples and shows that the proposed error estimator leads in practice to upper bounds of the output of interest being studied.
Practical implications
This tool is directly usable in the design stage. It can be used to develop efficient adaptive techniques.
Originality/value
The interest of this paper is to provide an estimation of the local quality of L2‐norm of the stress and the Von Mises' stress as well as practical upper bounds for these quantities.
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Bloomington scholars are critical of the rather wide-spread “Model Platonism” of both Austrian and Chicago economists. Their empirical, B, perspective avoids the more extreme…
Abstract
Bloomington scholars are critical of the rather wide-spread “Model Platonism” of both Austrian and Chicago economists. Their empirical, B, perspective avoids the more extreme views of both Austrian “mindful economics,” A, and Chicago “mindless economics,” C. Yet the B is not a mere convex combination of A and C. It is rather a psychologically grounded empirical evidence-oriented approach that keeps clear of the non-empirical spirit of von Mises’ and Selten’s methodological dualism on one hand and the instrumentalist and behaviorist spirit of much of neo-classical economics on the other hand.
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Sanjay Kumar Singh, Lakshman Sondhi, Rakesh Kumar Sahu and Royal Madan
The purpose of the study is to perform elastic stress and deformation analysis of a functionally graded hollow disk under different conditions (rotation, gravity, internal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to perform elastic stress and deformation analysis of a functionally graded hollow disk under different conditions (rotation, gravity, internal pressure, temperature with variable heat generation) and their combinations.
Design/methodology/approach
The classical method of solution, Navier's equation, is used to solve the governing equation. The analysis considers thermal and mechanical boundary conditions and takes into account the variation of material properties according to a power law function of the radius of the disk and grading parameter.
Findings
The findings of the study reveal distinct trends and behaviors based on different grading parameters. The influence of gravity is found to be negligible, resulting in similar patterns to the pure rotation case. Variable heat generation introduces non-linear temperature profiles and higher displacements, with stress values influenced by grading parameters.
Practical implications
The study provides valuable insights into the behavior of displacement and stresses in hollow disks, offering a deeper understanding of their mechanical response under varying conditions. These insights can be useful in the design and analysis of functionally graded hollow disks in various engineering applications.
Originality/value
The originality and value of this study lies in the consideration of various loading combinations of rotation, gravity, internal pressure and temperature with variable heat generation. Furthermore, the study of effect of various angular rotations, temperatures and pressures expands the understanding of the mechanical behavior of such structures, contributing to the existing body of knowledge in the field.
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