Invisible Hand in the Process of Making Economics or on the Method and Scope of Economics

As a social science, economics cannot be reduced to simply an a priori science or an ideology. In addition economics cannot be solely an empirical or a historical science. Economics is a research field which studies only one dimension of human behavior, with the four fields of mathematics, econometrics, ethics and history intersecting one another. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the two parts of the proposition above, in connection with the controversies surrounding the method and the scope of economics: economics as an applied mathematics and economics as a predictive/empirical science.Invisible hand, Scope and method in economics, Economics as an applied mathematics, Economics as an empirical science, Economics as ideology.

Growth of Public Expenditures in Turkey during the 1950-2004 Period: An Econometric Analysis

The share of government expenditures in GDP has displayed steady increase in both developed and developing countries during the 20th century. This observation has led economists to explore the reasons and the underlying mechanism both theoretically and empirically. Several hypotheses on the relationship of public expenditures with income growth, budget deficits and government revenues have been reexamined in the light of recent developments in econometric methods. This study presents results from testing three hypotheses, namely, the Wagner Hypothesis, the Buchanan- Wagner Hypothesis and the Tax-Expenditure Hypothesis, using data from Turkey for the period 1950-2004. In the empirical section we employed time series econometric techniques to analyze long run economic relationships. Several unit root and cointegration tests are utilized to see the robustness of results across different methods.Public expenditures, Wagner Hypothesis, Buchanan-Wagner Hypothesis, Tax-Expenditure Hypothesis, Turkey

THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN ADAM SMITH’S THOUGHT SYSTEM AND MODERN PUBLIC FINANCE THEORY: A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION

What are the main functions of the state? Which functions must be fulfilled by the state, which functions must be not? How should the state fulfill these responsibilities? What must be the main principles of the state, related to public expenditures, taxation and debt policies? In this paper, the place of the role and functions of the state in Adam Smith’s thought system will be discussed. In this context, especially the related parts of the Wealth of Nations and Lectures on Jurisprudence will be focused on and evaluated in the light of contemporary public finance theor

Method and scope in Joseph A. Schumpeter's economics: a pluralist perspective

This study aims to evaluate the ideas on the scope and method of economics of Joseph Schumpeter who is one of the important economists of the 20th century. The study consists of four sections: In the first section we underline the interesting points of his life to understand the roots, background, or 'vision' of his thought system. In the second section, we will examine his methodological views that he asserted in his first (but translated into English only in 2010) book. Third section will be concerned with his 'analysis of economics' which refers to his critics of Leon Walras's general equilibrium analysis (as static) and his own alternative (dynamics analysis of capitalist economies) about the central subject matter of economics. In the fourth section we will treat his approach about the development/evolution process of economic thought in time. The study concludes with a brief assessment: Schumpeter is one of the rare economists who can build his own thought system in the history of economics, and he embraced a pluralist perspective in the field of the methodology of economics

Invisible hand in the process of making economics or on the method and scope of economics

As a social science, economics cannot be reduced to simply an a priori science or an ideology. In addition economics cannot be solely an empirical or a historical science. Economics is a research field which studies only one dimension of human behavior, with the four fields of mathematics, econometrics, ethics and history intersecting one another. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the two parts of the proposition above, in connection with the controversies surrounding the method and the scope of economics: economics as an applied mathematics and economics as a predictive/empirical science

Which Rivastigmine Formula is Better for Heart in Elderly Patients With Alzheimer's Disease: Oral or Patch?

Objective: Rivastigmine is commonly used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). All cholinesterase inhibitors, including rivastigmine, may cause cardiac side effects. The aim of this study is to compare the electrocardiographic (ECG) and hypotensive effects of formulations of rivastigmine

Does vitamin D deficiency increase orthostatic hypotension risk in the elderly patients?

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is closely associated with falls, cardiovascular events and mortality in the elderly patients. The aim of the study is to evaluate the OH prevalence among patients over the age of 65 years, to find out the impact of this condition on daily living activities, and to determine the possible effects of vitamin D levels on OH in elderly patients. Eight hundred and forty nine geriatric patients who had undergone comprehensive geriatric assessment were retrospectively evaluated and 546 patients were included in the study. The patient's demographic characteristics, blood pressures, comorbid diseases, polypharmacy status, cognitive and nutritional states, basic and instrumental daily living activity indexes and laboratory values were obtained from hospital files. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured by radioimmunoassay. The prevalence of OH was found to be 27.5%. Both daily living activity indexes were significantly lower in older patients with OH (p < 0.02), and serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in older patients with OH (p < 0.01). Our findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be a factor in OH development. Because this condition is also preventable and correctable, serum vitamin D levels should be checked during the evaluation of OH patients and any detected deficiency should be treated accordingly. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

The effects of sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, on cognitive functions in elderly diabetic patients with or without Alzheimer's disease

Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate effect of sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4I), on cognitive functions in elderly diabetic patients with and without cognitive impairment

Which Cholinesterase Inhibitor is the Safest for the Heart in Elderly Patients With Alzheimer's Disease?

Objective: Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are widely used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, their cholinergic side effects on the cardiovascular system are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to examine the side effects caused by donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine on cardiac rhythm and postural blood pressure changes in elderly patients with AD. Methods: Of 204 consecutive elderly patients who were newly diagnosed with AD, 162 were enrolled and underwent comprehensive geriatric assessments. The electrocardiographs (ECGs) and blood pressures were recorded at the baseline and 4 weeks after the dose of 10 mg/d of donepezil, 10 cm2/d of rivastigmine, and 24 mg/d of galantamine. Results: There were no changes relative to the baseline in any of the ECG parameters or arterial blood pressure with any of the administered ChEIs. Conclusion: It was demonstrated that none of the 3 ChEIs were associated with increased negative chronotropic, arrhythmogenic, and hypotensive effects for the elderly patients with AD

Lung injury aggravated in Streptozotocin-induced diabetes: an experimental study

Purpose: The aim of the study explores the impact and potential mechanisms on the STZ (Streptozotocin)induced diabetes model histopathologically and immunohistochemically on diabetic lung fibrosis