Economic Pluralism

The leading edges of economic thinking in the early 21st century are marked by a nascent pluralism - a positive valuing of difference and complexity - regarding the nature and evolution of human behaviour and economic organization. Economic Pluralism brings these pluralist sensibilities to the fore. Its twenty original essays explore the value and difficulties of pluralism in economic theory, philosophy, institutions, and education.

These twenty original essays reflect the maturity and breadth of pluralist scholarship in economics today. The first eight chapters (including essays by Tony Lawson, Diana Strassmann, Frederic Lee, and David Colander) stake out contentious positions on how and why pluralism matters in economic inquiry. The remaining chapters explore the meaning and consequences of pluralism in economic education, institutions, and policies.

This volume provides a unique "second generation" discussion of pluralism in economics. Its twenty original essays include contentious disagreements about where and why pluralism matters in economic inquiry as well as creative explorations of pluralism and its consequences in economic systems and in graduate and undergraduate economic education. It is certain to spur further debate over the scope and value of economic pluralism for the 21st century. This volume would be of most interest as a supplementary text for graduate or undergraduate courses that include units on heterodox economics or economic philosophy.

Robert Garnett is Associate Professor of Economics at Texas Christian University. Erik K. Olsen is Assistant Professor of Economics and member of Doctoral Faculty at the University of Missouri Kansas City. Martha Starr is a member of the economics faculty at American University in Washington, DC. Prior to joining AU, she was a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.