Economics, Welfare and Alternative View of Man

Monique Sham


GES 2660
Power And Poverty: Geographies of the 3rd world






Week 2 Summary of: Economics, Welfare and Alternative View of Man
by Manuel R. Agosin

Lecturer: Lebogang Mashego
Date: 01 Aug. 03









Agosin’s view is somewhat abrupt when referring to other economists, while his view is one of utopian and socialist ideals. He seems to challenge the views of economists – especially those of the first or developed world, saying that the assumptions used to create economic theories are not reality, but rather an analysis of reality by a specific person or group of people.

Agosin looks at the distinctive factors of assumptions and value judgements in “normal” economics. There are six important assumptions made by conventional economics about man and his relationship to economic activity:
1. The individual has a certain set of preferences that are stable and produced in rank ordering
2. The individual’s only concern is to ma...