Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

20 p.

Publication Date

9-2006

Publisher

Taylor & Francis (Routledge)

Source Publication

Journal of Economic Methodology

Source ISSN

1350-178X

Abstract

This paper reviews three distinct strategies in recent economics for using the concept of social identity in the explanation of individual behavior: Akerlof and Kranton's neoclassical approach, Sen's commitment approach and Kirman et al.'s complexity approach. The primary focus is the multiple selves problem and the difficulties associated with failing to explain social identity and personal identity together. The argument of the paper is that too narrow a scope for reflexivity in individual decision‐making renders the problem intractable, but that enlarging this scope makes it possible to explain personal and social identity together in connection with an individual behavior termed comparative value‐objective evaluation. The paper concludes with recommendations for treating the individual objective function as a production function.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Economic Methodology, Vol. 13, No. 3 (September 2006): 371-390. DOI. © 2006 Taylor & Francis (Routledge). Used with permission.

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