ABSTRACT

The purpose here is to revisit the role of pluralism in heterodox economics and to make the case for its continuing centrality in heterodox economics. For many, heterodox economics could be defined in terms of pluralism contrasted with mainstream monism. But some argue that many heterodox economists are, or should be, monist, while others argue that orthodox economics has in any case become more pluralist. Underlying some of these differences of opinion, there is confusion as to what pluralism actually entails, and thus what terms mean from a pluralist, rather than monist, perspective. The first need to be addressed here is therefore to try to clarify the meaning of pluralism, putting forward one way of defining and understanding it. The future of heterodox economics is then discussed in these terms.