CRITIQUES OF MAINSTREAM ECONOMICS BY OLD INSTITUTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL ECONOMICS

Abstract

Mainstream economics is based on two basic assumptions. These are instrumental rationality and methodological individualism. As a result of the assumptions of rationality and methodological individualism on which mainstream economics is built, the 'ideal type' of homo economicus has been created. Homo economicus has been criticized by heterodox schools of economics for being unrealistic and failing to capture the complexity of economic life. These critiques emphasize that homo economicus does not take into account the social and cultural structures, psychological and cognitive factors, and the importance of time and space that influence human behavior. This article discusses the content and interrelationship of the critiques of the basic assumptions of mainstream economics by two different heterodox schools of economics, old institutional and old behavioral economics. Although these schools differ in their focus and theoretical structures, they agree on the weaknesses of the homo economicus model, arguing that human behavior cannot be understood in terms of self-interested rationality. The article argues that economics should provide a multidimensional perspective to interpret the world with a more holistic understanding and that an interdisciplinary approach is essential for this.

Keywords

• Rationality
• Methodological Individualism
• Institutional Economics
• Behavioral Economics

BİRİNCİ KUŞAK KURUMSAL VE DAVRANIŞSAL İKTİSAT OKULLARININ ANAAKIM İKTİSADA ELEŞTİRİLERİ

Abstract

Anaakım iktisat iki temel varsayım üzerine temellenir. Bunlar, araçsal rasyonalite ve metodolojik bireyciliktir. Anaakım iktisadın üzerine inşa edildiği rasyonalite ve metodolojik bireycilik varsayımları sonucunda ise homo economicus “ideal tip”i doğmuştur. Homo economicus, gerçekçi olmaması ve ekonomik hayatın karmaşıklığını yakalayamaması nedeniyle heterodoks iktisat okullarınca eleştirilmiştir. Bu eleştirilerde, homo economicusun insan davranışında etkili olan toplumsal ve kültürel yapıları, psikolojik ve bilişsel faktörleri, zaman ve mekânın önemini dikkate almadığı vurgulanmıştır. Bu çalışmada, iki farklı heterodoks iktisat okulunun, birinci kuşak kurumsal ve davranışsal iktisat okullarının anaakım iktisadın temel varsayımlarına yaptıkları eleştirilerin içeriği ve birbirleriyle ilişkileri ele alınmaktadır. Bu okullar, odak noktaları ve teorik yapıları farklı olsa da homo economicus modelinin eksiklikleri konusunda mutabıktırlar; insan davranışının yalnızca bireysel çıkar temelli rasyonalite çerçevesinde anlaşılamayacağını savunurlar. Çalışmamızda, iktisadın yaşadığımız dünyayı daha bütünsel bir kavrayışla yorumlayabilmesi için çok boyutlu bir perspektif kazanması gerektiği, bunun için ise disiplinlerarası bir yaklaşıma ihtiyaç duyulduğu savunulmaktadır.

Keywords

• Araçsal Rasyonalite
• Metodolojik Bireycilik
• Kurumsal İktisat
• Davranışsal İktisat

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