The foundations of economic method

Methodology is often viewed as a bit-part player within economics. Too tied down with debating past disputes, methodology has been viewed by many within economics as an irrelevance.This book attempts to change the sidelining of economic methodology by focusing on current neoclassical research programs, which are beginning to provide a sound theoretical basis for the evolution of economics, game theory, institutions and the market based system. The book provides a clear analysis of the fundamentals of economic methodology and goes on to show how Karl Popper's theory of science has not been widely adopted by economists, how his philosophy has been misunderstood by methodologists and how Popperian theory can be incorporated into current neoclassical theory to change it for the better.Many consider Foundations of Economic Method to be Boland's best work. This updated edition is radically changed from the original and will be much appreciated by not only students and researchers within economic methodology and philosophy, but also all those involved in neoclassical economics today.