Edward J. Nell

Edward J. Nell
Born (1935-07-16) July 16, 1935
Riverside, Illinois
Nationality American
Institution New School for Social Research, N.Y
Field Macroeconomics, development economics, monetary analysis, finance, philosophy of economics
School or
tradition
Post-Keynesian economics
Alma mater Princeton University, Oxford University

Edward J. Nell (born July 16, 1935) is an American economist and a former professor at the New School for Social Research (NY). Nell was a member of the New School faculty from 1969 to 2014. He achieved the rank of Malcolm B. Smith Professor of Economics in 1990. He is currently the chief economist for Recipco.

Nell's contributions are in the field of Macroeconomic Theory, Monetary Analysis and Finance, Economic Methodology and Philosophy, Transformational Growth and Development.[1] He has written some twenty books. His articles on economic theory and methodology have appeared in leading journals like the American Economic Review, the Journal of Political Economy, the Journal of Economic Literature, Cambridge Journal of Economics, Eastern Economic Journal, Review of Political Economy, Economic Development and Cultural Change, Analysis, and Social Research.[2]

Nell is known for his critical view of the methodological and philosophical foundations of Neo-Classical Economics (what Nell calls free-market economists), examined in his best known book Rational Economic Man (Cambridge University Press, 1975) and coauthored with English rationalist philosopher Martin Hollis.[3] Nell is also the originator of the General Theory of 'Transformational Growth'. The full development of the General Theory of Transformational Growth came in the 90s, and was published as The General Theory of Transformational Growth (Cambridge University Press, 1998).[4] The methodology/philosophy which underlies the Theory of Transformational Growth is a form of realism, based on filling in 'conceptual truths' by doing fieldwork and then building models of solidly based institutionally grounded relationships.[5]

In a collection of essays in honor of Edward J. Nell published in 2004,[6] Argyrous, Forstater and Mongiovi wrote: Nell has been pushing the envelop of economic theory for forty years. Nell has been a member of the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research (NY) since 1969. His writings and teaching reflect the intellectual values cherished by the German-speaking émigré economists who formed the backbone of the Graduate Faculty at its inauguration in the early 1930s — methodological eclecticism, a critical outlook toward conventional economic thinking, and a powerful commitment to the idea that the ultimate purpose of social science is to assist the achievement of progressive outcomes. Nell's intellectual breadth is indicated by the range of issues to which he has made important contributions: Growth Theory, the Capital Theory Debate, Monetary Economics, Macroeconomic Theory and Policy, Drug Policy, Structural Economic Change, Economic Methodology, Economic History, Analytic Philosophy, and the Philosophy of Knowledge.

Biography

Nell was born in Riverside, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, on July 16, 1935, only son of Marcella and Edward Nell. His father was a journalist and taught journalism at Northwestern University; he ran the Quill and Scroll foundation for high school journalism. His mother was a public school administrator and then a professor of education at Roosevelt University.

Nell attended Princeton University (1954–1957) and received his B.A Magna cum Laude in 1957 (in the Woodrow Wilson School). His field of study at Princeton varied a good deal. He studied mathematics, physics and philosophy, before discovering a passion for economics and politics. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship[7] in 1957 which took him to Oxford University. Though he had already completed a B.A from Princeton, Oxford enrolled him for another, as was the custom at the time. He obtained a First in PPE in 1959 at Magdalen College, studying with Frank Burchardt and David Worswick. Nell then stayed at Nuffield College (1959–1962), Oxford University, to do his advanced work on the foundations of economic analysis, complete his doctoral thesis and further develop his research.

He returned to the US to teach at Wesleyan University, but later went back to the UK to lecture at the University of East Anglia, also doing research at Cambridge University. On various leaves of absence from the New School for Social Research he taught at Bennington College, and at Bard College, at McGill University, the University of Siena in Italy, and the University of Bremen, and Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. He gave sets of lectures and seminars in Europe — in France, at the Universities of Paris, Orleans and Nice; in the U.K at the Universities of Oxford, and Cambridge, and at East Anglia, Warwick, Essex, and Sussex; in Italy at the Universities of Rome, Milano, Catania and Siena; in Austria at the Universities of Graz and Vienna; in Germany at the Universities of Bremen, Frankfurt, Kiel, Regensburg, and Hanover; in Canada, at Trent University, Waterloo, McGill and HEC-Montreal. And at New South Wales, Melbourne, Newcastle, Adelaide and Sydney in Australia. Many of these lectures were associated with research projects with colleagues in these universities.[8]

Contributions to economics

Economics and philosophy

Nell's best known research on economics and philosophy was a book published in 1975 by Cambridge University Press under the title Rational Economic Man (coauthored with philosopher Martin Hollis).[9] Lavoie, D. C. (1977, p. 325)[10] argued that

To the devastating critiques of positivism by such philosophers as Brand Blanshard, W. V. Quine, S. Toulmin, A. R. Lousch and Karl Popper, can now be added that of Professors Hollis and Nell. The reason for the impotence modern economics, these authors show, lies in its method. The rejuvenation of economics necessitates developing a different methodology, one which pays attention to the aspects of social sciences which distinguish them from natural sciences. We need a method which recognizes that people are not atoms and that society is not a laboratory.

Since the early 1960s Nell had been critical of the neoclassical research program and had attempted to draw out the unstated assumptions of neoclassical economics and submit them to methodological scrutiny. His 1966 doctoral thesis was on 'Models of Behavior'. Hollis and Nell (1975) is an extension of that doctoral thesis. In Hollis and Nell (1975), they outline an alternative vision to neo-Classicism based on a rationalist theory of knowledge. They dissect the textbook combination of neo-Classicism and Positivism, so crucial to the defence of orthodox economics against now-familiar objections. Hollis and Nell's approach to methodology breaks with the traditional approach by focusing on the problems of the applicability of (the then) current neo-Classical theories. Coherent theories, describing the behaviour of 'assumed' – thus imaginary — rational agents, are developed. But what are the conditions for applying such theories to actual agents? The neo-Classical answer hinges on its view of rational individuals.[11]

Theory of money and finance

Theory of transformational growth

Furthermore, Geoffrey M. Hudgson (2004)[18] argued that:

Edward Nell's rich and enlightening The General Transformational Growth (1998) has over seven hundred pages and cites many authors. But there is no reference to Thorstein Veblen. Yet there are remarkable connections and similarities between the thought of Veblen and that of Nell. Most obviously, both are acutely concerned with the perilous dynamics and checkered effects of modern capitalism. But the similarities go deeper. At the core of their separate arguments concerning capitalist development are deep understandings of the significance and role of technology. Furthermore, Nell (1998, 26–36, 410–68) key argument concerning the shift from a craft economy to mass production has uncannily close parallels in Veblen's (1904: 364–68; 1914: 230–355) analysis of the transformation from the era of handicraft production to the machinery industry with its machine process. Indeed, both Veblen and Nell invest this transformation with major economic, cultural, and dynamic consequences.

Econometrics and philosophy

More recently Nell has worked with his colleague Karim Errouaki on the methodological foundations of structural econometrics. The position exposed by Martin Hollis and E.J Nell (1975)'s Rational Economic Man was further extended and developed in their recent book Rational Econometric Man, Edward Elgar, 2013).[22] They argued that is not too farfetched to see Hollis and Nell (1975) Rational Economic Man as a foundation for reconstructing the scientific foundations of structural econometrics; one might say Rational Econometric Man. They argued that there are good reasons for considering Hollis and Nell's (1975) framework as a foundation for reconstructing structural econometrics, a foundation that complements and extends the original ideas of Trygve Haavelmo. Haavelmo's (1944) work is probably the most important landmark in the history of econometric modelling. It is a remarkable monograph which, unfortunately for econometrics, became a classic much too early, part of the reason it is misunderstood. A foundation that complements and extends the original ideas of Haavelmo. Haavelmo's (1944) work is probably the most important landmark in the history of econometric modelling.[23] It is a remarkable monograph which, unfortunately for econometrics, became a classic much too early, part of the reason it is misunderstood.[24] They present their distinctive methodological contribution as a blend of fieldwork and conceptual analysis designed to ensure that their models are well grounded in reality and at the same time, conceptually coherent as well as statistically adequate. In so doing, they also outline a number of elements that will be needed to develop a 'good' macro-econometric model of an advanced economy.[25]

Development economics

More recently, Nell has worked with his two colleagues Federico Mayor Zaragoza and Karim Errouaki on Reinventing Globalization after the Crash (forthcoming in 2015).[26] The book is based on material provided by Federico Mayor Zaragoza's book The World Ahead (Zed Books, UNESCO, 2001), revisited and animated by the theoretical framework put forward by Nell in his opus magnum book General Theory of Transformational Growth (Cambridge University Press, 1998) and extended by Karim Errouaki (UM, HEC-Montreal, 2003) who argued that Transformational Growth provides a new vision and a new framework, for thinking about economic development, bringing it into the framework of economic history. The purpose of the book, which is embodied in their title, is to re-invent globalization in a way that it will ensure that globalization is only profitable and sustainable – the subject of many studies – but it will result in human development. They want to suggest ways to recreate global economy as to humanize it.[27]

Other books

Articles

Over 150 articles in professional economics journals and edited volumes; 6 articles in professional philosophy journals; numerous articles in popular magazines, and numerous TV interviews.

Selected articles

References

  1. For an account of Nell's contributions to economics see G. Argyrous, M. Forstater and G. Mongiovi (eds.) (2004) Growth, Distribution, And Effective Demand: Essays in Honor of Edward J. Nell. New York: M.E. Sharpe.
  2. For a brief overview of Nell's work see The University of Missouri – Kansas City Center for Full Employment and Price Stability (www.cfeps.org/people/nellej/)
  3. For a review essay of the book see DON C. LAVOIE (1977) From Hollis and Nell to Hollis and Misses. Review-essay of Martin Hollis and Edward J. Nell, Rational Economic Man: A Philosophical Critique of Neo-Classical Economics (London: Cambridge University Press).Journal of Libertarian Studies. Vol. 1. No. 4, pp. 325–336.
  4. For a review essay of the book see S. Abu Turab Rizvi (1998) The General Theory of Transformational Growth, (London: Cambridge University Press, 1998,by Edward J. Nell). Journal of Economic Literature. Vol. 36, No. 4, Dec., 1998. For an account of the Theory of Transformational Growth see Ross Thomson (2004) Transformational Growth and the Universality of Technology. In Argyrous, G., Forstater, M and Mongiovi, G. (eds.) (2004) Growth, Distribution, And Effective Demand: Essays in Honor of Edward J. Nell. New York: M.E. Sharpe.
  5. For an account of the methodology/philosophy which underlies the Theory of Transformational Growth see Nell, E.J. (2004) Critical Realism and Transformational Growth. In Transforming Economics. Edited by P. Lewis. London: Routledge. 76–95.
  6. See Argyrous, G., Forstater, M and Mongiovi, G. (eds.) (2004) Growth, Distribution, And Effective Demand: Essays in Honor of Edward J. Nell. New York: M.E. Sharpe. The essays in this book develop three interconnected themes that run through modern heterodox economics, and through Nell's work. The first and most fundamental, of these themes is the idea that economic growth is demand-driven. The second theme concerns the connection between economic growth and the structural characterisitics of a market economy. The third theme looks at various nonorthodox approaches to growth and distribution.
  7. Nell is a Rhodes Scholar. See the "Association of American Rhodes Scholars" .(http://www.americanrhodes.org/)
  8. For an account of Nell's biography see Arestis, Ph. and Sawyer, M. (eds.) (2000) A Biographical Dictionary of Dissenting Economics. See pages 442–450.
  9. Edward J. Nell,Brendan Hogan, and Karim Errouaki have organized in memory of Martin Hollis the Martin Hollis Memorial Conference on Rationality, Action, and Value and the Philosophy of Social Science. It was held at the Graduate Faculty, New School, New York, between 18 and 20 November 2004. Prominent economists and philosophers in the World from the New School (NY), Columbia University and Cambridge University and other universities participated to the conference.
  10. For a Review-essay of Martin Hollis and Edward J. Nell, Rational Economic Man: A Philosophical Critique of Neo-Classical Economics (London: Cambridge University Press)see DON C. LAVOIE (1977) From Hollis and Nell to Hollis and Mises. Journal of Libertarian Studies. Vol. 1. No. 4, pp. 325–336.
  11. Errouaki, K (2004) "Rereading Hollis and Nell (1975): Laying Down the Blueprints for Reconstructing Structural Econometrics". Paper presented at the Martin Hollis Memorial Conference, The New School, NY, November 18th, 2004. Forthcoming in Nell, E.J., B. Hogan, B. and Errouaki, K. (eds.) Rationality, Action and Value in the Philosophy of Social Science, Martin Hollis Memorial Conference.
  12. Nell, E.J. (1967) Wicksell's Theory of Circulation. The Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 75, No. 4, Part I, August 1967.
  13. For an account see Lavoie, M., Rodriguez, G. and Seccareccia, M. (2004) Transformational Growth, Interest Rates, and the Golden Rule. In: Argyrous, G., Forstater, M and Mongiovi, G. (eds.) (2004) Growth, Distribution, And Effective Demand: Essays in Honor of Edward J. Nell. New York: M.E. Sharpe. pp. 3–4
  14. Nell, E.J. (2004) "Monetizing the Classical Equations: A Theory of Circulation", Cambridge Journal of Economics.
  15. Nell, E.J. (1988) Prosperity and Public Spending: Transformational Growth and the Role of the State, London, UK: Unwin and Hyman, 1988. See the Introduction and chapter 7.
  16. Nell, E.J. and Phillips, Th. F. (1995) Transformational Growth and the Business Cycle, Eastern Economic Journal, Spring 1995.
  17. For an exposition of Nell's General Theory of Transformational Growth see Ross Thomson's article (Transformational Growth and the Universality of Technology, Chapter 5.) in Argyrous, G., Forstater, M and Mongiovi, G. (eds.) (2004) Growth, Distribution, And Effective Demand: Essays in Honor of Edward J. Nell. New York: M.E. Sharpe. See also Pressman, S.1998's Interview on Transformational Growth with E.J. Nell in Nell, E.J. (ed.) (1998)Transformational Growth and the Business Cycle, London,. Routledge, 1998.
  18. For an account see Geoffrey M. Hudgson (2004) Thorstein Veblen and the Machine Process. In Argyrous, G., Forstater, M, and Mongiovi, G. (Eds.) (2004) Growth Distribtution, and Effective Demand. London and NY: M.E Sharpe. pp. 261–279.
  19. For further details on Nell's General Theory of Transformational Growth see M. Lavoie, G. Rodriguez and M. Seccareccia's article (2004) (Transformational Growth, Interest Rates, and the Golden Rule, chapter 1) in Argyrous, G., Forstater, M and Mongiovi, G. (eds.) (2004) Growth, Distribution, And Effective Demand: Essays in Honor of Edward J. Nell. New York: M.E. Sharpe.
  20. For an account of the methodology/philosophy which underlies the Theory of Transformational Growth see Errouaki. K (2008) Rethinking the Foundations of Transformational Growth. UM, The New School, NY.
  21. For a recent account see Karim Errouaki (2014) A Klein-Nell Alternative to the Failed Macroeconometrics of Lucas and the Rational Expectations Hypothesis. Working paper CAFRAD.
  22. See Edward Elgar 2011 publications catalog, p. 19.
  23. For a recent account see Karim Errouaki (2014) Does Neoclassical Econometrics have a Scientific Foundation? A Critique Based on Hollis and Nell”, Revue Interventions Economiques 50 (2014).
  24. For an account of Haavelom's contribution to econometrics see Aris Spanos 's 1986 book (Statistical Foundations of Econometric Modeling. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.1986). For a good discussion and a retrospective view of Haavelmo's ideas and probabilistic approach to econometrics see Spanos, A. (1989) On Rereading Haavelmo: A Retrospective View of Econometric Modeling. Econometric Theory 5, 405–429).
  25. Errouaki, K. (2006) "Rereading Haavelmo: Three commentaries", paper presented at Ramiro Cercos's Seminar, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Madrid.
  26. Errouaki, K, et al.(2006) De la Difference entre Mondialisation et Mondialisation Neoliberale. Le Journal de Tanger, No. 3380, 17 juin, 2006.
  27. Errouaki, K. (2003) "Globalization and Transformational Growth: Rethinking the Foundations of Economic Development". UM, HEC-Montreal, 2003. Paper presented at the Global Progressive Forum, the European Parliament, Brussels, 2003.

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