INTERPRETING THE WORK “ECONOMIC RULES” UNDER A CRITICAL OPTIC ABOUT THE CURRÍCULO OF THE GRADUATION COURSE OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES

Abstract

The work Economics Rules: The Rights and Wrongs of The Dismal Science, by Dani Rodrik (2015), offers a critical reflection on the nature, limits and potentialities of Economic Sciences, with emphasis on the use and interpretation of economic models. Rodrik argues that models are fundamental tools of discipline, comparing them to fables for their explanatory and narrative function, and criticizes the indiscriminate use of mathematical abstractions that move away from reality. The author rejects the idea of a single model, arguing that the strength of the Economy lies in its analytical diversity and the ability to select the model most appropriate to the empirical context. With accessible language and introductory approach, the book has relevant teaching potential, especially for undergraduate students, by providing a broad and critical view on the economic field. The analysis, however, points out that the simplification adopted in favor of clarity can hide ideological nuances and structural limitations in the formation of economists. As a pedagogical resource, the work contributes to rethink the introductory teaching of Economics, challenging the acritical centrality of orthodox models and promoting a more plural, contextualized and methodologically conscious formation.