The article introduces an analysis of economic research method in Russian thought. The analysis made on the basis of a concise historical overview seeks to identify particular features of economic research method in Russia, trace their origin, put them into a wider context of economic theory progress, to assume a possible direction of further development of Russian “indigenous” approaches to economic research. The following conclusions have been drawn. Economic methodology in Russia does have particular traits grounded in its Weltanschauung and a singular path of historical development. This methodology had been developing over decades, in pre-revolutionary Russia and then in USSR till Russia’s transition to market economy, when ideas of mainstream economic theory started to be thoroughly scrutinized and assimilated. It is apparent to some observers, though, that this assimilation in many respects remains the official rhetoric, while the “indigenous” approaches remain to exist and be used somehow implicitly. At the same time these approaches show some similarity with “Western alternative” to economic orthodoxy, the evolutionary economic theory, which has been developing for the last 30 years. Thus, in regard to perspective of Russian economic analysis development it is suggested a comparative study of the evolutionary economic theory methodology and the Russian approaches to economic analysis with its characteristic viewpoint and conceptual apparatus undertaken as part of a more general reassessment of core concepts and methods of mainstream theory.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Distinctive Features of Economic Analysis in Russia
2.1 Weltanschauung model (a descriptive model of the world)
2.2 Dynamic analysis
2.3 Economic activity motivation and a concept of value
3. The Evolutionary Economic Theory
4. Comparison in Brief
5. Perspectives
Research Objectives and Themes
This article aims to identify the unique characteristics of economic research methods in Russia, trace their historical origins, and position them within the broader evolution of economic theory. By analyzing the relationship between worldviews (Weltanschauung) and methodological approaches, the work explores how Russian "indigenous" methods share common ground with contemporary evolutionary economic theory.
- The influence of national worldviews on scientific methodology.
- Historical evolution of Russian economic thought from pre-revolutionary times to the post-Soviet era.
- Comparison between Russian holistic/systemic approaches and Western evolutionary economics.
- Reassessment of mainstream economic concepts such as profit maximization and equilibrium.
- The potential for mutual enrichment between Russian scientific traditions and modern evolutionary theory.
Excerpt from the Book
Weltanschauung model (a descriptive model of the world)
Schumpeter in his last work, dedicated to economic analysis history, expressed an opinion (1954/2007), that choice of a research method is a question of “temperaments and intellectual bents” (p. 995). He pointed out that there is use for both, himself though being apparently of “a historical temperament.” On the pages of the aforementioned History of Economic Analysis Schumpeter many times emphasized the importance of knowing history for undertaking a valid economic analysis and went even further stating that “the study of history is not only the best but the only method to this purpose [economic analysis]” (the other being statistics, “theory,” and economic sociology) (p. 43).
Starting from the argument that the research method is a function of a researcher “temperament and intellectual bent” we can proceed with an assumption that in their turn these determinants are likely preconditioned by a researcher’s home land culture, which we can define by Schmoller’s words as “a commonality of language, history, customs, ideas” (as cited in Avtonomov et al., 2000, p. 149) or in a wider sense as the world view. If there were not such a relation, how could be explained a difference between national schools of thought and the very fact of naming theories after nations e.g.: the Austrian School, the neo-Austrian School, the German historical School etc.. In textbooks on the history of economic thought there can be found following observations: “In spite of growing unification within mainstream theory, economic analysis in different countries still has some national traits” (p.762). Statements such as this are normally followed by specification of national schools characteristics.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the motivation for the study, which emerged from thesis research, and defines the objective to examine the distinct nature of Russian economic analysis and its relation to evolutionary theory.
2. Distinctive Features of Economic Analysis in Russia: Explores how Russian economic thought is grounded in a holistic and systemic worldview, focusing on sub-themes like dynamic analysis and unique concepts of value and economic motivation.
3. The Evolutionary Economic Theory: Provides an overview of the Western evolutionary economic approach, highlighting the work of Nelson, Winter, and Schumpeter, and its focus on routines and long-term change.
4. Comparison in Brief: Contrasts Russian analytical traditions with evolutionary economic theory, noting their shared empirical, inductive, and dynamic focus while rejecting static equilibrium models.
5. Perspectives: Synthesizes the findings, suggesting that integrating the Russian scientific tradition with Western evolutionary economics could offer a more robust framework for addressing contemporary challenges like sustainable development.
Keywords
economic analysis in Russia, evolutionary economic theory, economic development, Weltanschauung, holism, systemic approach, dynamic analysis, routine, institutionalism, historical perspective, methodological inquiry, sustainable development, firm behavior, Russian economic thought, scientific tradition
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work examines the distinctive methodological features of Russian economic thought and analyzes their historical origin and potential relevance to contemporary evolutionary economics.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the impact of national culture on research methods, the systemic nature of Russian economic analysis, and the divergence from mainstream equilibrium-based economic theory.
What is the central research question?
The research asks what define the traits of Russian economic analysis, where they originate, and how they relate to the development of modern evolutionary economic theory.
Which scientific method is employed?
The author uses a historical and comparative overview, positioning economic theory as being preconditioned by the broader philosophical framework or "Weltanschauung" of a nation.
What topics are addressed in the main body?
The main body covers the development of Russian indigenous approaches, their dynamic and holistic character, a parallel analysis of Western evolutionary theory, and a direct comparison between these two schools of thought.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as economic analysis in Russia, evolutionary economic theory, holism, systemic approach, and sustainable development.
How does the author define the "Weltanschauung" model?
It is defined as a descriptive model of the world that preconditions a researcher's choice of methods and the specific problems they choose to investigate.
What is the author's view on the "shared value" concept?
The author identifies commonalities between recent Western "shared value" concepts and earlier Russian holistic models, suggesting that the Russian tradition has long accounted for social and environmental impacts.
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- MA Ekaterina G. Navalnaya (Autor:in), 2014, Natural Evolutionism of Russian Economic Analysis, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/276155
