Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
BY
LIONEL ROBBINS
Professor of Economics in the University of London
P R E F A C E TO T H E S E C O N D E D I T I O N vii
P R E F A C E TO T H E F I R S T E D I T I O N . . . . xiv
CHAPTER I
THE SUBJECT-MATTER OF E C O N O M I C S
1. Introduction . . . . . . . 1
2. T h e " M a t e r i a l i s t " Definition of E c o n o m i c s . . 4
3. T h e " S c a r c i t y " Definition of E c o n o m i c s . . l¾
4. Economics a n d t h e E x c h a n g e E c o n o m y . . 16
5. The "Materialist" and "Scarcity" Definitions
Compared . . . . . . . 21
CHAPTER II
E N D S AND MEANS
1. Introduction . . . . . . . 24
2. Economics a n d E n d s 24
3. Economics a n d t h e Æ s t h e t i c . . . . 28
4. Economics a n d Technology . . . . . 32
5. Economic Theory and Economic History . . 38
6. T h e Materialist I n t e r p r e t a t i o n of H i s t o r y . . 42
CHAPTER III
T H E R E L A T I V I T Y OF ECONOMIC "QUANTITIES"
1. T h e Meaning of S c a r c i t y . . . . . 46
2. T h e Concept of a n E c o n o m i c Good . „ 46
3. T h e " F a l l a c y of Misplaced C o n c r e t e n e s s " . . 49
4. T h e Meaning of E c o n o m i c S t a t i s t i c s . . . 54
5. T h e Significance of T i m e Series . . . . 59
6. " P r o d u c t i o n - D i s t r i b u t i o n " versus "Equilibrium"
Analysis . . . . . . , . 63
xvii
xviii SIGNIFICANCE OF ECONOMIC SCIENCE
CHAPTER IV
THE NATURE OF ECONOMIC GENERALISATIONS PA¢1B
1. Introduction 72
2. T h e F o u n d a t i o n s of Economic Analysis . . 72
3. Economic L a w a n d t h e "Historico-Relative" . 79
4. Economics a n d Psychology . . . . . 83
5. T h e Assumption of R a t i o n a l Conduct . . . 90
6. T h e Mythology of Homo Œconomicus . . . 9 4
7. Statics a n d D y n a m i c s . . . . . 99
CHAPTER V
ECONOMIC G E N E R A L I S A T I O N S A N D R E A L I T Y
1. Economics as a Science . . . . . 104
2. Statistical " L a w s " of Supply a n d D e m a n d . . 106
3. T h e " Q u a n t i t a t i v e E c o n o m i c s " of t h e Institu-
tionalists . . . . . . . 112
4. T h e F u n c t i o n of Empirical Studies . . . 1 1 5
5. T h e Inevitability of Economic L a w . . . 1 2 1
6. T h e Limitations of Economic L a w . . . 1 2 6
7. T h e Possibility of a Theory of Economic Develop-
ment 131
CHAPTER VI
T H E SIGNIFICANCE O F E C O N O M I C S C I E N C E
1. Introduction . . . . . . . 1 3 6
2. T h e L a w of Diminishing Marginal Utility . . 136
3. T h e Neutrality of t h e Theory of Equilibrium . . 143
4. Economics a n d Ethics . . . . . .147
5. T h e Significance of Economic Science . . .151