Testing Trade Theory / Edward E. Leamer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Leamer, Edward E.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w3957.

NBER working paper series no. w3957

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 1992.

Summary:

This review of the empirical literature in international micro economics observes that data have had a disappointingly small effect on the intellectual lives of international economists. The reasons for this are many and diverse, but one general comment is made here: We need better balance between the three layers of the argument: the issues, the theory and the data. The profession as a whole is imbalanced in favor of theory. But most of the empirical work is also imbalanced. Some empirical studies take the theory too seriously and lose track of the issues. Others do not take the theory seriously enough and try to make do with ad hoc but inappropriate empirical models. Some of these which lack the theory layer lack as well any clear issues. We need better balance.

Notes:

Print version record

January 1992.