Mathematical modelling and ideology in the economics academy ; Modelación matemática e ideología en la economía académica

Abstract

The widespread and long-lived failings of academic economics are due to an over-reliance on largely inappropriate mathematical methods of analysis. Many heterodox economists, however, appear to hold instead that the central problem is a form of political-economic ideology. Specifically, it is widely contended in heterodox circles that the discipline goes astray just because so many economists are committed to a portrayal of the market economy as a smoothly or efficiently functioning system or some such, a portrayal that, whether sincerely held or otherwise, is inconsistent with the workings of social reality. Here I critically examine the contention that a form of political-economic ideology of this sort is the primary problem and assess its explanatory power. I conclude that the contention does not fare very well. ; Las fallas generalizadas y duraderas de la economía académica se deben a la excesiva confianza en métodos de análisis matemáticos inapropiados. Muchos economistas heterodoxos piensan que el problema central es una forma de ideología político-económica, que la disciplina va por mal camino porque muchos economistas describen la economía de mercado como un sistema que funciona eficientemente, una descripción que, así sea sincera, es inconsistente con el funcionamiento de la realidad social. Este artículo examina la pretensión de que esa forma de ideología es el problema principal, evalúa su poder explicativo y concluye que no es una buena explicación.