Debunking Economics

Prof. Keen shows the unscientific nature of economics by looking at the notion of diminishing marginal costs required to produce a downward slopping supply curve. He presents a summary of the empirical evidence which contradicts this key assumption of economics. How has economics handled this consistent evidence accumulated over many decades? By ignoring it. This speaks volumes for the way that economics handles contrary evidence to accepted beliefs. Not that this should come as a surprise, given that the notion was originally invented to ensure that neoclassical economics did not suggest that the economy would become dominated by big business (that this was precisely what was happening in the real economy at the time was considered irrelevant). The book also analyses a mathematical flaw in the standard argument against monopolies (often used to justify opposition to large firms). The book questions the conventional theory of the firm, arguing that monopolies can play a beneficial role in the economy.