--%>

Good theory

It is frequently said that a good theory is one which can in principle be refuted by an empirical, data-oriented study. Describe why a theory which cannot be evaluated empirically is not a good theory.
In evaluating theory there are two steps: firstly, you have to examine the reasonability of the theory's assumptions; secondly, you have to test the theory's predictions by comparing them with facts. If a theory cannot be tested, it cannot be accepted or rejected. Hence, it contributes little to our understanding of reality.

   Related Questions in Microeconomics

  • Q : Income of consumer-consequence on

    Income of consumer: In case of normal good - Increase in income leads to rise in quantity demanded of a normal good and reduce in income leads to reduction in quanti

  • Q : Charting of past prices Can the

    Can the charting of past prices be used to predict future prices?

  • Q : Define poverty line by the income

    Explaining the poverty line by the income needed to maintain a specified standard of living is: (w) a positive poverty standard. (x) a relative poverty standard. (y) a normative poverty standard. (z) an absolute poverty standard.

    Q : Problem on excise tax Suppose an excise

    Suppose an excise tax is imposed on product X. We would expect this tax to: A) increase the demand for complementary good Y and decrease the demand for substitute product Z. B) decrease the demand for complementary good Y and increase the demand for substitute product

  • Q : Prices and costs in monopoly market

    When this monopoly generates Q units: (1) P > MC. (2) MR = MC. (3) total revenue total cost is maximized. (4) MSB > MSC. (5) All of the above.

    Q : A legal price floor and revenues Assume

    Assume that the U.S. wheat market is firstly into equilibrium on S0D0. Now assume the government institutes a legal price floor at P3 per bushel of wheat. When the government does nothing else, one outcome will be such

  • Q : Avoid losses incurred from predatory

    To drive rivals by a market but ignore losses incurred by predatory pricing, a firm could: (w) cut price below costs but continue to sell similar amount of output. (x) set price equal to average costs, removing incentives for other firms to reenter th

  • Q : Labor Unions-supply of workers The

    The methods unions use to raise the wages of their members do not comprise: (1) Rising the demand for the union labor. (2) Establishing higher salaries and allotting work to members. (3) Facilitating the management plans to raise productivity. (4) Raising the supply o

  • Q : Demand in Dynamics The raise in the

    The raise in the supply of potatoes is probable to decrease the: (i) Supply of potato harvesters. (ii) Demand for pasta and rice. (iii) Price of Big Macs. (iv) Quantity of ketchup people put on hot-dogs. (e) Budgets of most house-holds.

  • Q : Optimization and Heuristics Can someone

    Can someone help me in finding out the right answer from the given options. No one can execute all the mental gymnastics essential to perfectly process information and hence all their decisions are mathematically optimal, therefore most of the people rely heavily on m