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

Description

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. Here scientific misconduct is considered from the perspective of a single discipline such as economics likely for the first time in intellectual history. Research misconduct has become an important concern across many natural, medical, and social sciences, including economics, over the past half-century. Initially, a mainstream economic approach to science and scientific misconduct draws from conventional microeconomics and the theories of Becker, Ehrlich, and C. S. Peirce’s "economy of research." Then the works of Peirce and Thorstein Veblen from the 19th century point toward contemporary debates over statistical inference in econometrics and the failure of recent macroeconomic models. In more contemporary economics, clashes regarding discrimination and harassment have led to a Code of Professional Conduct from the American Economic Association and a Code of Ethics from one of its members. The last chapter considers research ethics matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been an explosion of research and some retractions. More generally, a concern with research ethics contributes to scientific progress by making some of its most difficult problems more transparent and understandable and thus possibly more surmountable. This book offers valuable insights for students and scholars of research ethics across the sciences, philosophy of science and social science, and economic theory. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgements 1 Introduction Preview Scientific Misconduct as an Abductive Surprise More on C. S. Peirce and the Economics of Scientific and Mathematical Research Science as a Strategic Game The Ultimate Economic Critique: Is This All a Waste of the Scientist’s Time? Ethics and the Political Economy of Science 2 Scientific Misconduct in the Late 20th and Early 21st Centuries Introduction The Late 20th Century Wave of Scientific Misconduct The Millennial Wave of Scientific Misconduct Millennial Period Surveys of Scientific Misconduct Conclusions 3 Replication Failure, Plagiarism, and Questionable Research Practices in Economics and Psychology Introduction Concepts of Replication in Science The JMCB Replication Project Feldstein’s Computation Error for Social Security and Private Saving Reinhart and Rogoff’s Coding Errors for Sovereign Debt and Growth Misconduct, Plagiarism, and Questionable Research Practices in Economics and Other Disciplines Replication Failure in Psychology Conclusions 4 The Unusual Economic Fundamentals of Science and Universities Introduction A Standard Market Economy without Science and Higher Education An Economy with Science and Higher Education Science as a Public Good: The Positive Externality Theory An Economic Model of Higher Education with Costs of Plagiarism An Economic Model of Science with Costs of Research Integrity Conclusions 5 The Economics of Replication Failure and the Preference Structures of Scientists Introduction Replication Failure as an Economic Phenomenon Preference Structures of Scientists An Economic Model of Replication Failure Some Extensions of the Logic of Replication Failure Conclusions Mathematical Appendix: The Becker Model of the Allocation of Time 6 The Economics of Fraud in Science and the Preferences of Misbehaving Scientists Introduction Episodes of Fraud in Science Fraud and the Credibility of Science An Economic Approach to Fraud in Science Strategic Aspects of Scientific Misconduct and Game Theory Conclusions Mathematical Appendix: The Ehrlich Model of Choice Under Uncertainty 7 Peirce’s Economy of Scientific Research, Replication, and Accuracy Introduction The Role of Economics in Peirce’s Thought Peirce’s Economic Model of Research Project Selection and Replication Game Theoretic Aspects of Peirce’s Economy of Scientific Research The Notion of Probable Error and the Logic of Statistical Inference A Random Experiment in the Psychology of Sensation Nicholas Rescher on Peirce’s Economy of Research as Cost-Benefit Analysis Conclusions Mathematical Appendix: Peirce’s Model of the Economy of Research 8 Questionable Research Practices in Late 19th Century America Introduction Scientific Research in America at the Centennial Authorship Problems at Johns Hopkins Research Funding for the Coast Survey and Problems with Congress An Episode of Research Fraud and More Clashes with Newcomb and James Conclusions 9 Peirce’s Economy of Historical Research and His Defense of Aristotle, Plato, and Pythagoras Introduction On the Economy of Historical Research The Authenticity of Aristotle’s Writings Pythagoras Was Not Too Mystical Plato Did Not Plagiarize the Phaedrus Conclusions 10 Veblen and Peirce on Contested Research Practices in Economics Introduction Veblen’s Critique of Neoclassical Economics Path Dependence: Yalcintas’ Veblenian Critique of Contemporary Economics and Science Failure A Peircean Perspective on Path Dependence and the Complicating Role of Mathematics in Economics Conclusions 11 Contested Research Practices in Econometrics, Methodology, and Macroeconomics Introduction Problems with Statistical Significance in Econometrics and Economic Methodology Macroeconomics and the Great Depression Macroeconomics and the Great Recession Conclusions 12 From Macroeconomic Controversy to a Code of Conduct for Economists Introduction Colander and Mankiw on Recent Controversy in Macro An Engineering-Based Code of Ethics for Economists Discrimination and Harassment in Recent American Economics The AEA Code of Professional Conduct Sharp Differences Over Mathematics in Economics: What No Code of Ethics Can Control Conclusions 13 The Credibility of Science During the Pandemic Introduction An Acceleration of Pandemic Research and Retractions Pandemic Risk Inversion Around an RCR Benchmark Benchmarking the Losses Accountability A “Will to Learn” Conclusions 14 Scientific Misconduct as an Economically Explainable Anomaly Introduction A Reprise of the Economics of Scientific Misconduct Toward a Positive Heuristic of Research Ethics and Practices An Emerging Core Economics Literature on Research Ethics and Scientific Misconduct A Parting Thought Index