The Sraffian Methodenstreit and the revolution in economic theory

Nuno Ornelas Martins*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Here I address several questions raised by Ajit Sinha's book A Revolution in Economic Theory: The Economics of Piero Sraffa. I focus on the contribution brought by the book, and the way in which it is positioned against other contributions, especially in what concerns the methodology presupposed in Sraffa's contribution, within what can be termed a Sraffian Methodenstreit, given the role of theory and history in the controversies surrounding Sraffian analysis. In so doing, I address the geometrical approach advanced by Sraffa, which is emphasised by Sinha in his critique of interpretations of Sraffa drawing on the notion of equilibrium. I also address the connections between Sraffa and Ludwig Wittgenstein, which are discussed by Sinha, taking into special consideration what Wittgenstein saw as Sraffa's ethnological or anthropological approach, and its implications for the use of Sraffa's methodology in economics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)507-525
Number of pages19
JournalCambridge Journal of Economics
Volume43
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Mar 2019

Keywords

  • Geometry
  • Gravitation
  • History
  • Methodology
  • Theory
  • Time

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