Lucas on the relationship between theory and ideology

Artikel

This paper concerns a neglected aspect of Lucas's work: his methodological writings, published and unpublished. Particular attention is paid to his views on the relationship between theory and ideology. I start by setting out Lucas's non-standard conception of theory: to him, a theory and a model are the same thing. I also explore the different facets and implications of this conception. In the next two sections, I debate whether Lucas adheres to two methodological principles that I dub the 'non-interference' precept (the proposition that ideological viewpoints should not influence theory), and the 'non-exploitation' precept (that the models' conclusions should not be transposed into policy recommendations, in so far as these conclusions are built into the models' premises). The last part of the paper contains my assessment of Lucas's ideas. First, I bring out the extent to which Lucas departs from the view held by most specialized methodologists. Second, I wonder whether the new classical revolution resulted from a political agenda. Third and finally, I claim that the tensions characterizing Lucas's conception of theory follow from his having one foot in the neo-Walrasian and the other in the Marshallian-Friedmanian universe.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal: Economics: The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal ; ISSN: 1864-6042 ; Volume: 5 ; Year: 2011 ; Issue: 2011-4 ; Pages: 1-39 ; Kiel: Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW)

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; History of Economic Thought: Macroeconomics ; History of Economic Thought: Individuals ; Economic Methodology ; Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles: General (includes Measurement and Data)
• Subject: Lucas ; new classical macroeconomics ; methodology ; Neue klassische Makroökonomik ; Wissenschaftliche Methode ; Dogmengeschichte

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): De Vroey, Michel
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW)
• (where): Kiel
• (when): 2011

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.5018/economics-ejournal.ja.2011-4
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/44434
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET