Thébault, K, Bradley, S orcid.org/0000-0001-9663-7919 and Reutlinger, A (2018) Modelling Inequality. The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 69 (3). pp. 691-718. ISSN 0007-0882
Abstract
Econophysics is a new and exciting cross-disciplinary research field that applies models and modelling techniques from statistical physics to economic systems. It is not, however, without its critics: prominent figures in more mainstream economic theory have criticized some elements of the methodology of econophysics. One of the main lines of criticism concerns the nature of the modelling assumptions and idealizations involved, and a particular target are ‘kinetic exchange’ approaches used to model the emergence of inequality within the distribution of individual monetary income. This article will consider such models in detail, and assess the warrant of the criticisms drawing upon the philosophical literature on modelling and idealization. Our aim is to provide the first steps towards informed mediation of this important and interesting interdisciplinary debate, and our hope is to offer guidance with regard to both the practice of modelling inequality, and the inequality of modelling practice.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017, The Author. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for the Philosophy of Science. This is an author produced version of a paper published in The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | econophsysics; philosophy of science; models and simulation |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 26 Oct 2018 14:04 |
Last Modified: | 16 Sep 2020 12:15 |
Published Version: | https://academic.oup.com/bjps/article/69/3/691/305... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1093/bjps/axw028 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:137801 |