The Economics of Scientific Misconduct: Fraud, Replication Failure, and Research Ethics in Empirical Inquiry

The Economics of Scientific Misconduct explores episodes of misconduct in the natural and biomedical sciences and replication failure in economics and psychology over the past half-century, offering valuable insights for students and scholars of research ethics across the sciences, philosophy of science, and social science, and economic theory.

Format: Hardback
Length: 314 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Economics of Scientific Misconduct delves into captivating episodes of misconduct in the realms of natural and biomedical sciences, as well as replication failures in economics and psychology over the past fifty years. Here, scientific misconduct is approached from the unique perspective of a single discipline, such as economics, a groundbreaking approach in intellectual history.

Research misconduct has emerged as a significant concern spanning various natural, medical, and social sciences, including economics, throughout the past half-century. Initially, a mainstream economic approach to science and scientific misconduct draws upon conventional microeconomics and the theories of Becker, Ehrlich, and C. S. Peirce, known as the economy of research. Subsequently, the works of Peirce and Thorstein Veblen from the 19th century shed light on contemporary debates surrounding statistical inference in econometrics and the shortcomings of recent macroeconomic models. In more recent times, clashes regarding discrimination and harassment within the field of economics have resulted in the establishment of a Code of Professional Conduct by the American Economic Association and a Code of Ethics by one of its members. The final chapter of this book explores research ethics matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has witnessed an explosion of research and some retractions. More broadly, a focus on research ethics contributes to scientific progress by making some of its most challenging problems more transparent and understandable, thereby potentially facilitating their resolution.

This book provides invaluable insights for students and scholars engaged in research ethics across the sciences, philosophy of science, social science, and economic theory. It serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the complexities and ethical considerations inherent in scientific inquiry and advancing our understanding of the world around us.

Weight: 766g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367443603