Economics As a Science of Human Behaviour

• 1 Economics as a Social Science: Approach, Applications and Interdisciplinarity.- 2 Economics and Psychology: Homo Oeconomicus.- 3 Natural Environment: Environmental Protection and Environmental Ethics.- 4 Politics: Unemployment and National Socialism.- 5 Arts: Investments in Paintings.- 6 Family: Patriarchy in China.- 7 Conflict: Fighting Political Terrorism by Refusing Recognition.- 8 History: Prisoners of War.- 9 Limits and Further Development of Homo Oeconomicus.- 10 The Price System and Morals.- 11 Behavioural Anomalies and Economics.- 12 An Ipsative Theory of Human Behaviour.- References.- Author Index.

'The book should be widely read and used as a basis for further research by many other people.' Journal of Economics/Zeitschrift f. Nat. 'This book uses the economic way of thinking to analyze important social questions. Readers will find numerous insights as Bruno Frey is imaginative and controversial. No social scientist should miss this wonderful essay on prisoners-of-war. I strongly recommend the discussion of patriarchal families, investment in art and other essays.' Gary S. Becker, Nobel Laureate in Economics 'Professor Frey presents some fascinating applications of economics to phenomena normally considered to be wholly outside the economist's competence'.' George J. Stigler (DAGGER), Nobel Laureate in Economics 'Bruno Frey extends the domain of economics while ... stressing the limits of its explanatory value. The book uses the 'New Political Economy' to offer insights for psychology, environmentalism, politics, the arts, the family, war, and history while, at the same time, foreswearing claims to all-inclusive explanation. Basic economic theory is applied imaginatively and critically to offer sometimes surprising and always interesting increments to our understanding of real world events, past and present.' James M. Buchanan, Nobel Laureate in Economics