Economics and its methodology as a science: mathematics or social sciences? A proposal to integrate both paradigms: the basic citizen income

Source abstract

Economics as a discipline has been associated with the use of mathematics and statistics to construct its models and theories. Empiricism and the constructivist paradigm have predominated in the development of economics as a science. At the same time, economic phenomena are, by nature, social phenomena, in which the behavior of the various economic agents influences their mechanisms and evolution, in addition to having a direct relationship with other social science disciplines, such as sociology and political science. Furthermore, the ultimate goal of research, beyond explaining and predicting phenomena, is to examine the development of well-founded proposals that improve one or more economic aspects. In this regard, we present an explanation of an innovative concept, integrating the two paradigms proposed for its explanation and justification: the Basic Citizen’s Income. We conclude that such integration is necessary to understand and explain economic concepts.