Tro och vetande i debatten om Sveriges ekonomiska tillväxt

Samhällsvetenskapens objektivitetsproblem i åskådlig form

Bibliographic Data

ID10756372
AuthorsWalter Korpi (Stockholm University, corresponding author)
Year1998
Volume35
Issue2
Pages41-72
Publication date1998-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociologisk Forskning (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0038-0342 • E-ISSN: 2002-066X
PublisherSociologisk Forskning, Swedish Sociological Association (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.37062/sf.35.18508
OpenAlexW4299509995
LanguageEN
References cited8

Faith and facts in the debate on Sweden's economic performance: the problem of objectivity in the social sciences illustratedWhen social scientists enter the public debate as policy experts, they are confronted with problems of objectivity discussed a generation ago by Gunnar Myrdal. Problems of objectivity are likely to be especially severe in areas related to distributive conflicts. Here the balance between politics and markets cannot be seen as only aquestion of economic efficiency but is also of relevance for distributive outcomes. In Sweden prominent economists have long argued that the ”Swedish Model” of high taxes and a large public sector has made Sweden lag behind other comparable countries in terms of GDP growth since 1970. Their arguments have been widely accepted by leading policy makers and the media. The empirical bases for this claim are examined and found seriously wanting, a situation illustrating problems of social science objectivity long ignored in the sociology of science

Distributive property · Economics · Epistemology · Faith · Objectivity (philosophy · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Relevance (law · Social science · Sociology · Law · Philosophy · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social Capital and Networks

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access