Universität Wien
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180204 SE Modelling in Economics (2021W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung
DIGITAL

Zusammenfassung

1 Janssen , Moodle
2 Knuuttila , Moodle

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").
An/Abmeldeinformationen sind bei der jeweiligen Gruppe verfügbar.

Gruppen

Gruppe 1

max. 15 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch
Lernplattform: Moodle

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

  • Dienstag 12.10. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 19.10. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 09.11. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 16.11. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 23.11. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 30.11. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 07.12. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 14.12. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 11.01. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 18.01. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 25.01. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

An important question in the philosophy of economics is how economic models relate to the world we live in. Clearly, economic models only reflect at best some of the factors that are relevant for the economic systems of interest. This then raises important questions, such as:
• Do economic models provide useful insight on how the economy functions? How do they provide such insights?
• How do economic models represent, explain or predict?
• How can we assess the fruitfulness of economic modeling?
• What is the role of econometrics or experiments in testing economic models?
• To what extent is economics different from other natural and/or social sciences?

This course addresses the aforementioned questions, both from the perspectives of economics and philosophy of science. The main goal is to get acquainted with different philosophical and methodological accounts of economic modeling, and use them to get a better understanding of the different roles economic models play.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

Methods:
• short lectures by the instructors
• careful reading and critical discussion of the literature (concepts, themes, arguments)
• question(s) concerning the reading(s) submitted through Moodle, and participation in the Moodle discussion. The questions need to be motivated. Each student needs to submit at least one question, and one response to a question of another student.
• co-chairing the group discussion
• a presentation and a short final thesis-oriented essay on a specific theme discussed in the course.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

- active participation (20%),
- questions and online discussion of readings (20%),
- (co-)chairing a class (10%),
- a presentation and a short final thesis-oriented essay (50%).

All aforementioned components of the course have to be fulfilled for the successful completion of the grade.

One unexcused absence is permitted.

Grading table
1 – (excellent) 90 – 100 points
2 – (good) 81 – 89 points
3 – (satisfactory) 71 – 80 points
4 – (sufficient) 61 – 70 points
5 – (insufficient) 0 – 60 points

Assessment

• careful reading and active discussion of the literature
• questions in the Moodle platform
• active discussion in the Moodle platform
• (co-)chairing group discussion in the class
• a presentation and a short final thesis-oriented essay

Examination topics

The course has a final essay in English, to be submitted after the course. The instructions are given in the syllabus, Moodle, and in the class.

Prüfungsstoff

The course has a final essay in English, to be submitted after the course. The instructions are given in the syllabus, Moodle, and in the class.

Tuesday 16.11.2021 (16.45-18:45): Economic models as isolations

Cartwright, Nancy. 1999. “The Vanity of Rigour in Economics: Theoretical Models and Galilean Experiments.” Discussion paper series 43/99. Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science.

Tuesday 30.11.2021(16.45-18:45): Economic models as credible constructions

Pancs, Romans, and Nicolaas J. Vriend. 2007. “Schelling’s Spatial Proximity Model of Segregation Revisited.” Journal of Public Economics 91 (1): 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2006.03.008.

Sugden, Robert. 2000. “Credible Worlds: The Status of Theoretical Models in Economics.” Journal of Economic Methodology 7 (1): 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/135017800362220.

Tuesday 07.12.2021 (16.45-18:45): Modeling as a theoretical strategy

Godfrey-Smith, Peter. 2006. “The Strategy of Model-Based Science.” Biology and Philosophy 21: 725-740.
Tuesday 14.12.2021 (16.45-18:45): Representation and understanding

Suárez, Maurizio (2010). “Scientific Representation.” Blackwell’s Philosophy Compass 5 (1): 91-101
Elgin, Catherine Z. 2004. “True enough.” Philosophical Issues, 14: 113–131.

Tuesday 11.01.2022 (16.45-18:45): Idealization and de-idealization

Weisberg, Michael. 2007. “Three Kinds of Idealization.” The Journal of Philosophy 104 (12): 639–59. https://doi.org/10.5840/jphil20071041240.
Knuuttila, Tarja, and Mary S. Morgan. 2019. “De-idealization: No Easy Reversals.” Philosophy of Science 86 (4): 641–61. https://doi.org/10.1086/704975.
Tuesday 18.01.2022 (16.45-18:45)
Individual essay presentations (two groups)

Tuesday 25.01.2022 (16.45-18:45)
Individual essay presentations (two groups)

Gruppe 2

max. 15 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch
Lernplattform: Moodle

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

  • Dienstag 12.10. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 19.10. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 09.11. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 16.11. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 23.11. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 30.11. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 07.12. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 14.12. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 11.01. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 18.01. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital
  • Dienstag 25.01. 16:45 - 18:45 Digital

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

An important question in the philosophy of economics is how economic models relate to the world we live in. Clearly, economic models only reflect at best some of the factors that are relevant for the economic systems of interest. This then raises important questions, such as:
• Do economic models provide useful insight on how the economy functions? How do they provide such insights?
• How do economic models represent, explain or predict?
• How can we assess the fruitfulness of economic modeling?
• What is the role of econometrics or experiments in testing economic models?
• To what extent is economics different from other natural and/or social sciences?

This course addresses the aforementioned questions, both from the perspectives of economics and philosophy of science. The main goal is to get acquainted with different philosophical and methodological accounts of economic modeling, and use them to get a better understanding of the different roles economic models play.

Methods:
• short lectures by the instructors
• careful reading and critical discussion of the literature (concepts, themes, arguments)
• question(s) concerning the reading(s) submitted through Moodle, and participation in the Moodle discussion. The questions need to be motivated. Each student needs to submit at least one question, and one response to a question of another student.
• co-chairing the group discussion
• a presentation and a short final thesis-oriented essay on a specific theme discussed in the course.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

- careful reading and active discussion of the literature
- questions in the Moodle platform
- active discussion in the Moodle platform
- (co-)chairing group discussion in the class
- a presentation and a short final thesis-oriented essay

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

- active participation (20%),
- questions and online discussion of readings (20%),
- (co-)chairing a class (10%),
- a presentation and a short final thesis-oriented essay (50%).

All aforementioned components of the course have to be fulfilled for the successful completion of the grade.

One unexcused absence is permitted.

Grading table
1 – (excellent) 90 – 100 points
2 – (good) 81 – 89 points
3 – (satisfactory) 71 – 80 points
4 – (sufficient) 61 – 70 points
5 – (insufficient) 0 – 60 points

Prüfungsstoff

The course has a final essay in English, to be submitted after the course. The instructions are given in the syllabus, Moodle, and in the class.

Information

Literatur

Readings and presentations:

Readings (19.10.2021 - 11.01.2022)

Rodrik, Dani. 2016. Economics Rules: The Rights and Wrongs of the Dismal Science. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. Chapters 1-2 (pages 13-49)

Akerlof, George A. 1970. “The Market for 'Lemons': Quality Uncertainty and the Market Mechanism.” Quarterly Journal of Economics. The MIT Press. 84 (3): 488-500.

Schelling, Thomas C. 1971 “Dynamic Models of Segregation.” Journal of Mathematical Sociology. 1: 143-86.

Cartwright, Nancy. 1999. “The Vanity of Rigour in Economics: Theoretical Models and Galilean Experiments.” Discussion paper series 43/99. Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science.

Pancs, Romans, and Nicolaas J. Vriend. 2007. “Schelling’s Spatial Proximity Model of Segregation Revisited.” Journal of Public Economics 91 (1): 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2006.03.008.

Sugden, Robert. 2000. “Credible Worlds: The Status of Theoretical Models in Economics.” Journal of Economic Methodology 7 (1): 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/135017800362220.

Godfrey-Smith, Peter (2006). “The Strategy of Model-Based Science.” Biology and Philosophy 21: 725-740.

Suárez, Maurizio (2010). “Scientific Representation.” Blackwell’s Philosophy Compass 5 (1): 91-101

Elgin, Catherine Z. (2004). “True enough.” Philosophical Issues, 14: 113–131.

Weisberg, Michael. 2007. “Three Kinds of Idealization.” The Journal of Philosophy 104 (12): 639–59. https://doi.org/10.5840/jphil20071041240.

Knuuttila, Tarja, and Mary S. Morgan. 2019. “De-idealization: No Easy Reversals.” Philosophy of Science 86 (4): 641–61. https://doi.org/10.1086/704975.

Individual presentations (18.01.2022 - 25.01.2022)

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Letzte Änderung: Sa 08.07.2023 00:17