Heterodox Microfoundations: A Methodological Appraisal

Abstract

This paper examines underlying methodological commitments in orthodox and heterodox approaches to micro and macro. Identifying methodological advantages and drawbacks of existing microfoundations, macrofoundations, and mesofoundations, I uphold the need for the heterodox microfoundations of macroeconomics which is centered on the casual mechanisms of an economic system. By this, we are capable of analyzing micro- and macroreality which are recursively interrelated. In addition, the fallacy of macroreductionism and central-reductionism can be avoided. One way of articulating the heterodox microfoundations is to utilize a circular production input-output matrix of a capitalist system combined with the price system. Such a framework is consistent with heterodox economics at the methodological and theoretical level.