A. Figueroa

Growth, Employment, Inequality, and the Environment (eBook, PDF)

Unity of Knowledge in Economics: Volume I

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

Growth, Employment, Inequality, and the Environment deals with the fundamental economic problems of our time: employment, inequality, the environment, and quality of life. This exciting new volume is unique in that it is the first book of its kind in which these problems are analyzed using a unified theory framework. Figueroa achieves his goal by addressing two significant problems. First, to solve the epistemological challenges of building unity of knowledge, he presents a unified theory of capitalism. Second, he considers the epistemological problem of the role of theory in scientific knowledge. This book therefore deals with a consistent theoretical system. That having been said, these theories which contain logically correct propositions may turn out to be empirically false. In order to avoid this error, some rules of scientific knowledge are needed. Growth, Employment, Inequality, and the Environment presents a method that contains such rules. The method is derived from the Popperian epistemology, making it operational in economics. The proposed unified theory is therefore empirically valid; it is a good approximation of the real world. Theoretical economics is thus treated under explicit epistemological rules: theory is the servant, not the master.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Palgrave Macmillan US
• Erscheinungstermin: 22. April 2015
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781137502674
• Artikelnr.: 43100362

Autorenporträt

Adolfo Figueroa is Professor Emeritus of Economics of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. He has taught and participated in collaborative research in American and British universities. He received his PhD in Economics from Vanderbilt University, USA in 1972. He studied there under the influence and guidance of Professor Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, the famous bio-economist.

Inhaltsangabe

PART I: SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE RULES, FACTS, AND STANDARD THEORIES REFUTATION 1. Popperian Epistemology In Economics: The Alpha-Beta Method 2. The Capitalist System: Empirical Regularities 3. Standard And Classical Economics PART II: THE SHORT RUN: PRODUCTION, EMPLOYMENT, AND DISTRIBUTION 4. The Epsilon Society 5. The Omega Society 6. The Sigma Society 7. Inequality And Social Disorder

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PART III: THE LONG RUN: GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION 8. Towards A Unified Theory Of Capitalism 9. Education And Human Capital Formation 10. The Epsilon Society: A Dynamic Model 11. The Omega Society: A Dynamic Model 12. The Sigma Society: A Dynamic Model 13. Unified Theory Of Capitalism: A Growth And Distribution Model PART IV: THE VERY LONG RUN: GROWTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT 14. Economic Growth Under Environmental Stress 15. Land Resources and Food Supply 16. Economic Growth And Quality Of Society PART V: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE UNIFIED THEORY 17. Science-Based Public Policies

Rezensionen

"Figueroa has provided a coherent epistemological framework and derived from it operational policies for addressing the major problems of our time. A stimulating and challenging book!" - Herman Daly, Professor Emeritus, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, USA

"This is a challenging and fearless book the outcome of an entire scholarly life. Figueroa builds a theory of the capitalist system, relating first and third worlds, which focuses on power as the exogenous variable. He throws down the gauntlet to the neo-classical paradigm. With careful methodology he derives the conclusion that given present power structures, output growth creates over time social disorder, inequality and environmental degradation. The solution, he argues, lies in true 'citizens' democracy'." - Rosemary Thorp, Emeritus Fellow, Oxford University, UK

"Figueroa's thoughtful book is timeless, but happens to come at the right time: as we approach the identification of a new setof sustainable development goals in the family of United Nations, a unified theory integrating economic growth, distribution, and environmental degradation over the short and long run is urgently needed to provide the underpinning for sound development strategy." - Joachim von Braun, Professor and Director, Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany

"This book provides a comprehensive model of global capitalism consistent with key historical facts about economic growth and distribution over the past two hundred years. It is also a powerful analysis of how diverse colonial experiences continue to shape the world economy. Distilled over many years, Figueroa's analysis is as pure as the finest Peruvian pisco, and merits savouring at least as much as the recent contributions of Thomas Piketty." -James Copestake, Professor, University of Bath, UK