Doing Economic Research

‘An excellent volume of papers which covers various topics in the applied methodology of economics. . .’
– Aslib Book Guide

‘. . . this is a thought-provoking collection on economic methodology and well worth reading.’
– John Hillard, The Manchester School

‘This is an excellent volume and Mayer argues his case persuasively. The reader is carried effortlessly between economic and philosophical topics, and a proper balance is maintained throughout. . . . I strongly recommend this book. . .’
– D. Wade Hands, Journal of Economic Literature

‘Mayer demonstrates the vitality of his theme with a succession of insights about current controversies (theoretical and empirical, macro ad micro). Methodologists will be pleased with Mayer’s consistent ability to link these practical insights to “deeper” principles. The pragmatic working economist, meanwhile, will find the insights interesting in their own right (and also may come away with a deeper respect for methodological inquiry). This book will make enjoyable, stimulative reading for methodologists and working economists alike.’
– Michael R. Montgomery, Southern Economic Journal

Doing Economic Research brings together a series of authoritative and illuminating essays by Thomas Mayer which bridge the gap between the abstract work of methodology and the practical research problems that concern the professional economist.

Arguing that methodologists should pay more attention to the day-to-day problems that face practising economists, Professor Mayer illustrates how simple methodological considerations can clarify a series of issues in applied economics. In particular, he offers a defence of positivism in economics and counters the argument that economics is not an empirical science. Specific essays reassess debates about microfoundations and Ricardian equivalence, consider whether assumptions should be realistic, question whether recent improvements in techniques have helped to resolve the monetarist debate, discuss the role of consumer theory and deal with some key issues in econometric practice.

Doing Economic Research differs from other work on economic methodology by focusing on specific issues of concern to applied economists, such as whether the failure of consumer choice theory on experimental tests matters. Applied economists and methodologists will welcome the book’s direct, down-to-earth manner and the way in which Professor Mayer’s ideas are applied to contemporary economic research.