Review of 'Towards an Integrated Paradigm in Heterodox Economics: Alternative Approaches to the Current Eco-Social Crises' Julien-Francois Cerber, Rolf Steppacher (Eds.), 2012, London: Palgrave Macmillan

摘要

As classical economics theories have been derived in the years 1800s, in countries literally booming as entering the fossil energy bonanza, it is clear that the question whether those theories are still applicable in expected times of fossil energy scarcity is more than relevant. Now, the multi-dimensional crisis experienced in our societies requires a new way of thinking — something that the current paradigm of neoclassical economics is not capable of offering. In short, the whole field of economics is once again in state of crisis like Joseph A. Schumpeter used to say before the rise of neoclassical economics (Schumpeter, 1982 [1931]). Indeed, the current paradigm of neoclassical economics demonstrates persistent and increasing failure at solving old and new problems that is how crises are recognized in science (Kuhn, 1962). In that context, Julien-Francois Gerber and Rolf Steppacher's book aiming at "establishing an alternative paradigm in economics" (p. 6) is very timely and more than welcome.