Economics and reality
By: Harald Uhlig
Contributors: National Bureau of Economic Research
Series: NBER working paper series -- working paper 16416; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) -- working paper no. 16416.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] /
Description: "This paper is a non-technical and somewhat philosophical essay, that seeks to investigate the relationship between economics and reality.  More precisely, it asks how reality in the form empirical evidence does or does not influence economic thinking and theory.  In particular, which role do calibration, statistical inference, and structural change play? What is the current state of affairs, what are the successes and failures, what are the challenges? I shall tackle these questions moving from general to specific.  For the general perspective, I examine the following four points of view.  First, economics is a science.  Second, economics is an art.  Third, economics is a competition.  Forth, economics politics.  I then examine four specific cases for illustration and debate.  First, is there a Phillips curve? Second, are prices sticky? Third, does contractionary monetary policy lead to a contraction in output? Forth, what causes business cycles? The general points as well as the specific cases each have their own implication for the central question at hand.  Armed with this list of implications, I shall then attempt to draw a summary conclusion and provide an overall answer"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Title from PDF file as viewed on 2/15/2011.

Includes bibliographical references.

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Mode of access: World Wide Web.