Abstract

GONZALEZ, Jorge Iván. El estatuto teórico de la niñez y de la juventud en la reflexión económica. Rev.latinoam.cienc.soc.niñez juv [online]. 2005, vol.3, n.2, pp.17-49. ISSN 1692-715X.

This paper aims at an account of the ways in which economic theory considers childhood and youth. Three thematic parts are differentiated: the first one is concerned with the method of economics; the second refers to Samuelson's rupture with classical utilitarianism, and the third shows possible alternatives to Samuelson's analytic framework. Among possible alternatives the author emphasizes three: the first, proposed by Arrow, opens up Samuelson's conceptual space because it considers world situations as arguments of the utility function. The second alternative, related to the name of Simon, unites biology and economics. The third way, proposed by Sen, centers on capacities. As reflection moves away from Samuelson, the possibility of including considerations on childhood and youth in economic reflection are enhanced, but this approach requires an interdisciplinary vision which is absent from conventional discussions. The paper concludes with a brief commentary on public policy, and invites an active interchange among different fields of knowledge, especially needed in reflections related to childhood and youth.

Keywords : Childhood; youth; utilitarianism; statics; dynamics; capacities; rationality; consumption; demand.

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