Economics language and assumptions: How theories can become self-fulfilling

• 成果类型: Review
• 署名作者: Ferraro, F; Pfeffer, J; Sutton, RI
• 署名单位: University of Navarra; IESE Business School; Stanford University; Stanford University
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0363-7425
• DOI: 10.5465/AMR.2005.15281412
• 发表日期: 2005
• 页码: 8-24
• 关键词: psychology; management; dispersion; DESIGN; PERSPECTIVE; COMMITMENT; motivation; CRITIQUE; college; culture

摘要

Social science theories can become self-fulfilling by shaping institutional designs and management practices, as well as social norms and expectations about behavior, thereby creating the behavior they predict. They also perpetuate themselves by promulgating language and assumptions that become widely used and accepted. We illustrate these ideas by considering how the language and assumptions of economics shape management practices: theories can win in the marketplace for ideas, independent of their empirical validity. to the extent their assumptions and language become taken for granted and normatively valued, therefore creating conditions that make them come true.