W. C.ミッチェルの制度経済学 : アラン・G・グルーチーの所説の検討(ヴェブレンとミッチェルの理論体系,共同研究)
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I Introduction Institutional economics mainly developed in USA in early 20 century. It aimed at dynamic understanding of economic phenomena by criticising the traditional economics and by observing transition process of institutions. The body of theory of Wesley Clair Mitchell who was one of Thorstein Bunde Veblen's students and his first intellectual successor is normally divided into two fields, history of economic theories and business cycles. In both studies he explains economic phenomena by human nature as well as by emphasizing the connection between economics and psychology. He uses John Dewey's pragmatism to understand the human nature. The quantitative method of analysis, characteristics of his economics, is based on his concept of human nature. Therefore philosophical relation of Mitchell and Dewey has to be thoroughly examined. European and American economists have been involved in tenacious studies centering around the above issues. Allan G. Gruchy, in particular, has been studying this theme based on his own viewpoint much more deeply than other economists. In this paper I would like to make philosophical relation of Mitchell and Dewey clearer by using as a reference Gruchy's remarks on early formative process of Mitchell's ideas of economics, Mitchell's pragmatic psychology and his quantitative method of analysis that are described in Gruchy's Modern Economic Thought: the American Contribution. I have found it very useful in today's sense to understand Mitchell's economics by clarifying unique application of Dewey's thought in his theory. This will also help to thoroughly understand neo-institutionalists' economic thoughts who are very active these days. Based on the above point of views, with Dewey's ideas in mind, I will follow Gruchy's concept in his paper. II Early formative process of W. C. Mitchell's economic thought Gruchy tried to clarify a certain characteristic of Mitchell's economics over philosophical relation of Mitchell and Dewey. According to Gruchy, from Dewey, Mitchell learned a great deal about the role of logic in human conduct. In addition to the above, he applied this to economics and proved that orthodox economics which mainly applied the deductive method to economic analysis resulted in the theory of equilibrium, which could not provide an adequate interpretation of the course of contemporary economic events. III W. C. Mitchell's pragmatic psychology Nothing is more essential for an understanding of Mitchell's economics than an appreciation of his views about the psychological basis of his science. It may not be exaggerating to say that his unique ideas on human nature brought about his unorthodox theory in a way. Mitchell who explained human nature based on pragmatic psychology analyzed the current cultural circumstances. He analyzed important institutions which affected economic conduct. IV W. C. Mitchell's quantitative method of analysis Gruchy paid attention to the close connection between Mitchell's psychological views and his philosophy of sceientific method. Mitchell's quantitative method of analysis is based on understanding of human nature supported by pragmatic psychology as mentioned in the previous chapter. By applying the quantitative methods of statistics to description of business cycles, Mitchell tried to explain cyclical fluctuations systematically. He tried to measure relative importance of various factors which operated within economic institutions. V Review on Gruchy's theory Since Gruchy belives it is important to understand Mitchell's economics, he gives many relevant remarks. However, after paying attention to the close connection between Mitchell's psychological views and his philosophy of scientific method he should have further pursued this point. Based on what said before Gruchy should have described more clearly a certain characteristics of Mitchell's economics over philosophical relation of Mitchell and Dewey. It will be important for us to re-examine the body of Mitchell's theory in relation to Dewey more positively than Gruchy did through his thought on Mitchell.
- 1988-03-20
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- A.G.グルーチーのW.C.ミッチェル論(ヴェブレンとミッチェルの理論体系,共同研究)
- W. C.ミッチェルの制度経済学 : アラン・G・グルーチーの所説の検討(ヴェブレンとミッチェルの理論体系,共同研究)
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