Arbeitspapier

Observing attitudes, intentions and expectations (1945-1973)

Although involved in projects of influent institutions like the Cowles Commission, the NBER, and the Michigan Survey Research Center (SRC), George Katona, the "pioneer student and chief collector of consumer anticipations data" (Tobin, 1959, p. 1) is virtually absent from accounts of the topics he explored, including the study of the consumption function and the development of behavioral economics. This essay argues that such an absence is partly explained by the theoretical underpinnings of Katona's project, which were incompatible with the economic views of behavior that dominated from the mid-1940s to the mid-1970s. It compares alternative survey programs funded by the Federal Reserve during that period, and analyzes the ensuing controversy on the purposes of the observation of attitudes, intentions and expectations. It claims that understanding Katona's approach "required a real restructuring of thought - a genuine paradigm shift" (Simon, 1979, p. 12), which gives specific interest to this historical episode.

Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Series: CHOPE Working Paper ; No. 2011-13

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
History of Economic Thought: Quantitative and Mathematical
History of Economic Thought: Individuals
Economic Methodology
Thema
George Katona
Michigan Survey Research Center
Subjective Data
Behavioral Economics

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Edwards, José M.
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
Duke University, Center for the History of Political Economy (CHOPE)
(wo)
Durham, NC
(wann)
2011

Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
10.03.2025, 11:43 MEZ

Datenpartner

Dieses Objekt wird bereitgestellt von:
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. Bei Fragen zum Objekt wenden Sie sich bitte an den Datenpartner.

Objekttyp

  • Arbeitspapier

Beteiligte

  • Edwards, José M.
  • Duke University, Center for the History of Political Economy (CHOPE)

Entstanden

  • 2011

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