Economic development as a change of qualitatively different systems of social and economic relations: To a critique of “pan-institutionalism” and “ideational” approach

Abstract

The paper shows that now the mainstream of the economic theory is in crisis losing the heuristic potential. There is some positive potential of the institutional approach that is close to (without admitting it) a number of methodological approaches in Marxist political economy (allocation of objective determinants of economic behavior, an implied confession of existence of similar economic systems, emphasis on property relations, etc.) and goes farther than neoclassics. The “ failures” of institutionalism are specified, and it is emphasized that in a number of points (especially, in exaggerating the role of institutions — political, in particular — as bases of economic changes) the criticism of R. I. Kapelyushnikov’s “pan-institutionalism” is justified but positive proposals of the author, the “ideational” approach, are themselves subject to criticism. The conclusion is drawn that active discussions concerning the methodology and paradigmatic foundations bases of economic theory are on the agenda.