TRI SLUČAJA ODNOSA EKONOMSKE NAUKE I DRUŠTVENE PRAKSE
Three Cases of the Relation Between Economic Science and Social Practice

Summary/Abstract: In the paper the author analyzes relationships between economic laws and the way in which they “reflect” themselves in economic theory, on the one hand, and researches manner in which economic policy influences manifestation o f economic laws, on the other hand. Three main forms o f these relationships are presented. In the first case, politicians, social classes and economic scientists choose only those parts or elements in economic theories and social doctrines that correspond to their opinions or economic interests. In the same time, politicians, social classes and economists neglect or repudiate other parts or elements o f the same social theory. This selective approach is illustrated with examples of Adam Smith's and Marx's economic and social theories. The second form concerns economic and social situations in which politicians, social classes and economists accepted some economic conceptions as socially useful in spite o f the fact that they were not correct. As examples, Say's “law o f market” (automatic reaction between supply and demand) and Marx's explication o f exploitation in capitalism are presented in the paper. The third form of interaction between economic theory, economic policy and economic practice is analyzed in the cases o f economic crises, the biggest crisis in history o f capitalism (1929-1932) and the second crisis that occured during the 1970 years.

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