The Economics of Scientific Misconduct explores episodes of misconduct in the natural and biomedical sciences and replication failure in economics and psychology over the past half-century. Here scientific misconduct is considered from the perspective of a single discipline such as economics likely for the first time in intellectual history.
Research misconduct has become an important concern across many natural, medical, and social sciences, including economics, over the past half-century. Initially, a mainstream economic approach to science and scientific misconduct draws from conventional microeconomics and the theories of Becker, Ehrlich, and C. S. Peirce’s "economy of research." Then the works of Peirce and Thorstein Veblen from the 19th century point toward contemporary debates over statistical inference in econometrics and the failure of recent macroeconomic models. In more contemporary economics, clashes regarding discrimination and harassment have led to a Code of Professional Conduct from the American Economic Association and a Code of Ethics from one of its members. The last chapter considers research ethics matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been an explosion of research and some retractions. More generally, a concern with research ethics contributes to scientific progress by making some of its most difficult problems more transparent and understandable and thus possibly more surmountable.
This book offers valuable insights for students and scholars of research ethics across the sciences, philosophy of science and social science, and economic theory.
Author(s): James R. Wible
Series: Routledge Advances in Social Economics
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 328
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
Preview
Scientific Misconduct as an Abductive Surprise
More on C. S. Peirce and the Economics of Scientific and Mathematical Research
Science as a Strategic Game
The Ultimate Economic Critique: Is This All a Waste of the Scientist’s Time?
Ethics and the Political Economy of Science
2 Scientific Misconduct in the Late 20th and Early 21st Centuries
Introduction
The Late 20th Century Wave of Scientific Misconduct
The Millennial Wave of Scientific Misconduct
Millennial Period Surveys of Scientific Misconduct
Conclusions
3 Replication Failure, Plagiarism, and Questionable Research Practices in Economics and Psychology
Introduction
Concepts of Replication in Science
The JMCB Replication Project
Feldstein’s Computation Error for Social Security and Private Saving
Reinhart and Rogoff’s Coding Errors for Sovereign Debt and Growth
Misconduct, Plagiarism, and Questionable Research Practices in Economics and Other Disciplines
Replication Failure in Psychology
Conclusions
4 The Unusual Economic Fundamentals of Science and Universities
Introduction
A Standard Market Economy without Science and Higher Education
An Economy with Science and Higher Education
Science as a Public Good: The Positive Externality Theory
An Economic Model of Higher Education with Costs of Plagiarism
An Economic Model of Science with Costs of Research Integrity
Conclusions
5 The Economics of Replication Failure and the Preference Structures of Scientists
Introduction
Replication Failure as an Economic Phenomenon
Preference Structures of Scientists
An Economic Model of Replication Failure
Some Extensions of the Logic of Replication Failure
Conclusions
Mathematical Appendix: The Becker Model of the Allocation of Time
6 The Economics of Fraud in Science and the Preferences of Misbehaving Scientists
Introduction
Episodes of Fraud in Science
Fraud and the Credibility of Science
An Economic Approach to Fraud in Science
Strategic Aspects of Scientific Misconduct and Game Theory
Conclusions
Mathematical Appendix: The Ehrlich Model of Choice Under Uncertainty
7 Peirce’s Economy of Scientific Research, Replication, and Accuracy
Introduction
The Role of Economics in Peirce’s Thought
Peirce’s Economic Model of Research Project Selection and Replication
Game Theoretic Aspects of Peirce’s Economy of Scientific Research
The Notion of Probable Error and the Logic of Statistical Inference
A Random Experiment in the Psychology of Sensation
Nicholas Rescher on Peirce’s Economy of Research as Cost-Benefit Analysis
Conclusions
Mathematical Appendix: Peirce’s Model of the Economy of Research
8 Questionable Research Practices in Late 19th Century America
Introduction
Scientific Research in America at the Centennial
Authorship Problems at Johns Hopkins
Research Funding for the Coast Survey and Problems with Congress
An Episode of Research Fraud and More Clashes with Newcomb and James
Conclusions
9 Peirce’s Economy of Historical Research and His Defense of Aristotle, Plato, and Pythagoras
Introduction
On the Economy of Historical Research
The Authenticity of Aristotle’s Writings
Pythagoras Was Not Too Mystical
Plato Did Not Plagiarize the Phaedrus
Conclusions
10 Veblen and Peirce on Contested Research Practices in Economics
Introduction
Veblen’s Critique of Neoclassical Economics
Path Dependence: Yalcintas’ Veblenian Critique of Contemporary Economics and Science Failure
A Peircean Perspective on Path Dependence and the Complicating Role of Mathematics in Economics
Conclusions
11 Contested Research Practices in Econometrics, Methodology, and Macroeconomics
Introduction
Problems with Statistical Significance in Econometrics and Economic Methodology
Macroeconomics and the Great Depression
Macroeconomics and the Great Recession
Conclusions
12 From Macroeconomic Controversy to a Code of Conduct for Economists
Introduction
Colander and Mankiw on Recent Controversy in Macro
An Engineering-Based Code of Ethics for Economists
Discrimination and Harassment in Recent American Economics
The AEA Code of Professional Conduct
Sharp Differences Over Mathematics in Economics: What No Code of Ethics Can Control
Conclusions
13 The Credibility of Science During the Pandemic
Introduction
An Acceleration of Pandemic Research and Retractions
Pandemic Risk Inversion Around an RCR Benchmark
Benchmarking the Losses
Accountability
A “Will to Learn”
Conclusions
14 Scientific Misconduct as an Economically Explainable Anomaly
Introduction
A Reprise of the Economics of Scientific Misconduct
Toward a Positive Heuristic of Research Ethics and Practices
An Emerging Core Economics Literature on Research Ethics and Scientific Misconduct
A Parting Thought
Index
