Political economy or economics?. Some terminological and normative considerations

Abstract

The article first tries to draw a distinction between a 'political economy' based on a distinctly interdisciplinary attitude and a predominantly 'pure' science of 'economics'. Several types of approaches to a political economy are discussed and it is argued that there are many possible ports of entry. Typical characteristics are an interest in other social sciences, a critical attitude to neoclassical rigidity, theoretical and empirical openness. The paper closes with an appeal for peaceful coexistence of good theory-political economy and economics. © 1989.