From Orthodox to Heterodox Economics and Beyond: How Mainstream Neoclassical Economics Got to Be the Way It Is and How It Needs to Change

Book Synopsis

Relative to other social sciences, economics as an academic discipline is at the extremes in its methodology, theory, conceptualisation, methods, and knowledge of and reference to its own history as a discipline. It has also been increasingly intolerant of alternative approaches and negligent of interdisciplinarity other than on its own narrow core principles. This Volume charts how orthodox economics became the way it is, how it is changing, and why it remains unfit for purpose. By contrast, heterodox economics is shown to be vibrant and wide-ranging despite the repressive tolerance exerted by orthodoxy through Americanisation and monopolisation of the discipline.

About the Author

Ben Fine, Ph.D. (1974), London School of Economics, is Emeritus Professor of Economics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and Visiting Professor, Wits School of Governance, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa.