In An Engine, Not a Camera, Donald MacKenzie argues that the emergence of modern economic theories of finance affected financial markets in fundamental ways. These new, Nobel Prize-winning theories, based on elegant mathematical models of markets, were not simply external analyses but intrinsic parts of economic processes.
Paraphrasing Milton Friedman, MacKenzie says that economic models are an engine of inquiry rather than a camera to reproduce empirical facts. More than that, the emergence of an authoritative theory of financial markets altered those markets fundamentally. For example, in 1970, there was almost no trading in financial derivatives such as "futures." By June of 2004, derivatives contracts totaling $273 trillion were outstanding worldwide. MacKenzie suggests that this growth could never have happened without the development of theories that gave derivatives legitimacy and explained their complexities.
MacKenzie examines the role played by finance theory in the two most serious crises to hit the world's financial markets in recent years: the stock market crash of 1987 and the market turmoil that engulfed the hedge fund Long-Term Capital Management in 1998. He also looks at finance theory that is somewhat beyond the mainstream―chaos theorist Benoit Mandelbrot's model of "wild" randomness. MacKenzie's pioneering work in the social studies of finance will interest anyone who wants to understand how America's financial markets have grown into their current form.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Donald MacKenzie is Professor of Sociology (Personal Chair) at the University of Edinburgh. His books include Inventing Accuracy (1990), Knowing Machines (1996), and Mechanizing Proof (2001), all published by the MIT Press. Portions of An Engine, not a Camera won the Viviana A. Zelizer Prize in economic sociology from the American Sociological Association.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
FREE shipping within United Kingdom
Destination, rates & speedsSeller: Speedyhen, London, United Kingdom
Condition: NEW. Seller Inventory # NW9780262633673
Quantity: 13 available
Seller: GreatBookPricesUK, Woodford Green, United Kingdom
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 5636414-n
Quantity: Over 20 available
Seller: PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, United Kingdom
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # GO-9780262633673
Quantity: 13 available
Seller: Chiron Media, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 6666-GRD-9780262633673
Quantity: 13 available
Seller: Ria Christie Collections, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
Condition: New. In. Seller Inventory # ria9780262633673_new
Quantity: 13 available
Seller: GreatBookPricesUK, Woodford Green, United Kingdom
Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 5636414
Quantity: Over 20 available
Seller: PBShop.store US, Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # GO-9780262633673
Quantity: 13 available
Seller: Majestic Books, Hounslow, United Kingdom
Condition: New. pp. 392 10 Illus. Seller Inventory # 8200481
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Rarewaves.com UK, London, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # LU-9780262633673
Quantity: Over 20 available
Seller: Kennys Bookshop and Art Galleries Ltd., Galway, GY, Ireland
Condition: New. 2008. 1st. Paperback. A pioneering work in the social studies of finance describes how the emergence of modern finance theory has affected financial markets in fundamental ways--as an engine that shapes them rather than a camera that reproduces their every detail. Series: Inside Technology. Num Pages: 392 pages, 10 illus. BIC Classification: KCA; KFF. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (UP) Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly. Dimension: 227 x 155 x 21. Weight in Grams: 530. . . . . . Seller Inventory # V9780262633673
Quantity: 13 available