A Critical Examination of the Ontology of Economic Models Based on the The Case of Austria Business Cycle Model

Öz

Although economic models are the most important part of the economic practice, studies on the ontology of them seem to be rather limited. There are two main approaches regarding the ontology of economic models. According to fictionalism, the relationship between economic models and the real world is limited as they are parallel worlds that are constructed for the modeller herself. According to isolationism, economic models are similar to real experiments, they are meant to isolate causal factors and mechanisms that are responsible for the occurrence of the economic phenomena. First in the economic practice how economic models are understood is represented. Then, fictionalist and isolationist approaches are critically examined. Lastly, by means of a case study, it is argued that ontology of economic models should not necessarily be taken in the context of the dichotomic treatment of models as isolations and constructions.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Economic Models
• Ontology
• Isolationism
• Fictionalism
• Austrian Business Cycle Model.

Avusturya İş Çevrim Modelinden Hareketle Ekonomik Modellerin Ontolojisi Üzerine Eleştirel Bir Değerlendirme

Öz

Ekonomik modellerin ekonomi pratiğinin işleyişinin en önemli bileşenleri olduğu halde bu yapıların ontolojik statüsü ile ilgili çalışmalar sınırlı kalmıştır. Ekonomik modellerin ontolojisi ile ilgili temel olarak iki yaklaşımdan söz edilebilir. Kurgucu yaklaşıma göre ekonomik modeller gerçek dünya ile ilgisi sınırlı olan, modelleyenlerin kendileri için kurguladıkları düşünsel, paralel dünyalardır. İzolasyoncu yaklaşıma göre ekonomik modeller, ekonomik fenomenin ortaya çıkmasına neden olan temel nedenleri ya da nedensel mekanizmaları izole etmeye yarayan, gerçek deneylere benzeyen yapılardır. Bu makalede öncelikle ekonomik modellerin ekonomi pratiği bağlamında nasıl değerlendirildiği ele alınmaktadır. Ardından ekonomik modellerin ontolojisi ile ilgili temel iki yaklaşım olan kurgucu ve izolasyoncu yaklaşımların çerçeveleri eleştirel bir yaklaşımla çizilmektedir. Son olarak ekonomik modellerin zorunlulukla kurgucu ya da izolasyoncu ikiliği temelinde ele alınmaması gerektiği bir durum çalışması aracılığı ile iddia edilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ekonomik Modeller
• Ontoloji
• İzolasyoncu Yaklaşım
• Kurgucu Yaklaşım
• Avusturya İş Çevrim Modeli.
• Economic Models
• Ontology
• Isolationism
• Fictionalism
• Austrian Business Cycle Model.

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