Awhile back, wojtek sokolowski said that it is better >> to analyse social institutions (e.g. how the production is being organised in the developing countries) rather than watching trends in economic aggregates which, paraphrasin Plato, are but shadows cast on the wall of a cave populated by economists.<< Sure, we're in a cave, unable to perceive exactly what's going on. But we have no direct knowledge of many if not most of the phenomena we try to understand (including the organization of production). We need all the help from studies of the shadows we can get. And if our theory (or what's really going on) predicts different shadows than actually occur? in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ. 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950 "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- K. Marx, paraphrasing Dante A.
