What is Economics and Why Does it Matter?

Through a series of contemporary cases, issues and applications, this book provides an engaging initiation to the philosophy of economics.The book explores morality of economics, the role of the state, policies for well-being, and the methods applied by economists.

Through a series of contemporary cases, issues, and applications, this book provides an engaging initiation to the philosophy of economics.

The book explores the morality of economics, the role of the state, policies for well-being, and the methods applied by economists. To encourage the idea of debate, the book explores both the pro and contra arguments of key questions: Why can't economists predict future crises? Why do we pay taxes, and who should pay more? Should we open borders for economic immigrants? Why do we rely on GDP? Is economics an experimental science? By exploring these questions, and many more, the book provides an accessible and thought-provoking overview of current debates in philosophy of economics.

This book is an ideal introduction to contemporary issues and questions in the philosophy of economics for all academic readers.

Autorentext

Marcin Gorazda is an interdisciplinary scholar in the philosophy of economics, legal philosophy, and tax and commercial law of the Copernicus Center for Interdisciplinary Studies at Jagiellonian University in Krakow and a practising lawyer with a habilitation diploma in philosophy of law.

Tomasz Kwarci ski is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Krakow University of Economics, renowned for his interdisciplinary research and scholarly contributions in economics, ethics, social philosophy, and the philosophy of economics.

Inhalt

Introduction Part I: Philosophy and Economics 1. How did economics get to this point? 2. What is economics about? 3. Why can't economists predict future crises? Part II: Ethics and Economics 4. Is economics a moral science? 5. What is more important - the size of the pie or the way it is divided? 6. Why do we pay taxes, and who should pay more? 7. Does wealth make us happier? 8. Should we open borders for economic immigrants? 9. Is a state entitled to "nudge" citizens? Part III: Methodology and Economics 10. How do economists reason? 11. What models do economists use? 12. Why are handsome men not smart? 13. Why do we rely on GDP in modern economics? 14. Is economics an experimental science? 15. Who should clean the house? 16. Do protestants earn more? 17. Do humans think rationally?