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The sedition of public choice: variations on the theme of scientific revolutions

ABSTRACT

Given a significant element of truth in “Public Choice”, a modest element must be found when a similar approach is made to the behavior of economic scientists. Harry Johnson found this in “The Keynesian revolution and the monetarist counter-revolution”, Following him, I find more in the Public Choice “Revolution” itself. The basic visions, assumptions and methods of the latter are appraised within its time-space stream. This approach is a complement to the Sociology of Knowledge (Thomas Kuhn), and may be taken as an embryonic Economics of Knowledge (Neoclassical). Requirements for the success of scientific revolutions is the theme.

KEYWORDS:
Public choice; history of economic thought; economic methodology; ­Buchanan

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