Methodology and Tacit Knowledge : Two Experiments in Econometrics

"Econometrics textbooks see their subject as a set of techniques; Magnus and Morgan see it as a set of practices. A combination of controlled experiment and anthropology of science, Methodology and Tacit Knowledge gives a rare inside view of how econometricians work, why econometrics is an art and not a set of simple recipes, and why, like all artists, econometricians differ in their techniques and finished works. This is economic methodology at its best." Kevin Hoover, University of California, Davis

"The tacit knowledge experiment was a highly commendable initiative. Its exploration of the theme of how knowledge is acquired and used in applied econometrics is unique and produced some fascinating insights into this process." Adrian Pagan, Australian National University

"It is rare, perhaps unique, to find leading empirical economists face the prospect of modelling the same phenomena, with the same data within the same limited time frame. A valuable and illuminating experiment in comparative research methodologies, made all the more provocative when compared to the excellent original study by Tobin." Richard Blundell, University College London

This book will be of considerable interest to economists and to econometricians concerned about the methodology of their own discipline, and will provide valuable material for researchers in science studies and for teachers of econometrics.

Jan R. Magnus is the author of Methodology and Tacit Knowledge: Two Experiments in Econometrics, published by Wiley.

Mary S. Morgan FBA FRDAAS, is Professor of the History of Economics in the London School of Economics since 1999. She graduated from the London School of Economics a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1978 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1984.