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Comments on: Quote: 5) Lionel Robbins – definition of economics http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/ The Visible Hand in Economics Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:09:24 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Matt Nolan http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/#comment-10013 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:09:24 +0000 http://tvhe.wordpress.com/?p=1723#comment-10013 Hi again Graham,

I found the quote in An Essay on the Nature and Significance of Economic science on page 31 (16th page of the book) of this link:

http://64.233.169.132/search?q=cache:Rjz59BT5BzEJ:mises.org/books/robbinsessay2.pdf+Lionel+Robbins+%22An+Essay+on+the+Nature+and+Significance+of+Economic+Science%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

The difference is that the definition uses “the” instead of “a” – the pdf copy of the book I have has “a” – which is where I suspect I actually got the definition from initially.

]]> By: Matt Nolan http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/#comment-10012 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:01:59 +0000 http://tvhe.wordpress.com/?p=1723#comment-10012 Hi Graham,

I think I nicked this definition from a methodology book somewhere along the line – I’ll have a little investigate 🙂

]]> By: Graham Anderson http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/#comment-9995 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:28:57 +0000 http://tvhe.wordpress.com/?p=1723#comment-9995 Hi Matt,
For many years I’ve been telling students that Robbins defined economics as, “The study of mankind in the ordinary business of life choosing between ends and scarce means that have alternative usage”. What is the source of your defintion? My research suggests that my the definition I have been used was a quote from Robbins based on Marshall’s defintion!! Best wishes.

]]> By: Matt Nolan http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/#comment-7487 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:57:41 +0000 http://tvhe.wordpress.com/?p=1723#comment-7487 Hi Derek,

I will be sure to have a look 🙂

]]> By: What Is Evolutionary Economics? | Information Headquarters http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/#comment-7075 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:22:08 +0000 http://tvhe.wordpress.com/?p=1723#comment-7075 […] Quote: 5) Lionel Robbins – definition of economics | TVHE […]

]]> By: Derek Wall http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/#comment-6172 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:17:21 +0000 http://tvhe.wordpress.com/?p=1723#comment-6172 you may be interest in my book looking at anti-capitalist economics, its been published by pluto and I have blogged the first few chapters here http://babylonandbeyond.blogspot.com/.

I think if economists ignore Ostrom’s insights on the commons which provide an essential insight into the ‘relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses’they will continue to miss something vital.

]]> By: Matt Nolan http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/#comment-3146 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:44:47 +0000 http://tvhe.wordpress.com/?p=1723#comment-3146 “The behaviour of human beings is not nearly as predictable as matter in physics”

Indeed. However, we have to ask why – it is a result of the lack of observability of the fundamental building blocks of peoples decisions, their preferences. As we don’t have this we are just trying to come up with the best method for understanding peoples choices – given their preferences.

As far as I can tell you are merely stating that we need to more fully map the scarcity implicit in natural resources when we analyse an issue. This is no different that the essence of the fundamental economic method but it matters when we try to apply the method.

Lionel Robbins quote is about “economic science”, the broad method which we both seem to agree upon. You appear to believe that there are major issues that need to be included in applied work – areas where we mis-specify the very relationship we are trying to analyse. I do not disagree with that, however without some specific detail about how you aim to do this I can’t really say much about it.

]]> By: JEFFREY M DOYLE http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/#comment-3145 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:23:30 +0000 http://tvhe.wordpress.com/?p=1723#comment-3145 Economics is not physics. The behaviour of human beings is not nearly as predictable as matter in physics [be it sub-atomic or macro.] While I understand the desire of many Economists to regard their Discipline as a deterministic, mathematically precise science, the reality is [with notable exceptions conceded] it is not a mechanistically elegant discipline like physics.

INTERDISCIPLINARY UTILIZATION AND INTEGRATION OF PHYSICS, BIOLOGY AND ESPECIALLY THERMODYNAMICS
INTO ECONOMIC ANALYSES, WILL GREATLY ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS AND SOLVE CURRENT SOCIAL PROBLEMS–ESPECIALLY IN THE THE AREAS OF OF ENERGY AND ECOSYSTEM STABILITY

]]> By: Conception of economics: Comment from Andrew W « The visible hand in economics http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/#comment-3144 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:01:56 +0000 http://tvhe.wordpress.com/?p=1723#comment-3144 […] Comment from Andrew W 5 11 2008 In the same post that Dr Doyle commented on, Andrew W linked to an article which he wanted us to discuss here (article is […]

]]> By: Tamon Ransom http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2008/10/26/quote-5-lionel-robbins-definition-of-economics/#comment-3143 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:25:49 +0000 http://tvhe.wordpress.com/?p=1723#comment-3143 There is something great in this writing which i will find out soon.(i am a student at the universityof Buea Cameroon. Iread banking and finance)

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