Individuals and Identity in Economics

'This book provides a breathtaking survey of the recent invasion of economic psychology into the very heartland of economics, concerned as it is - and to some extent always has been - with the conception of individuals and their identity in economic life. The author has written before on individuality in economics but never as comprehensively and sure-footedly as in this new book.' Mark Blaug, University of London and University of Buckingham
'A wonderful follow-up to John Davis's previous book on the individual in economics. Few economists think as deeply or as creatively about the building blocks of economic theory as does John.' David Colander, Middlebury College
'Many dilemmas in economic modeling arise only because we treat agent identities as fixed outside of theory. As John Davis appreciates, this is in fact another aspect of the world about which economists must make modeling choices. In this book he gives us the first comprehensive survey of the options developed so far, and of their far-reaching consequences.' Don Ross, University of Cape Town
'Davis's excellent account of changing ideas of the individual in recent economics is rigorous and compelling. Most importantly, however, it shows why transforming our understanding of the individual is necessary in order to defend democracy and human rights.' Robert Urquhart, University of Denver
'… an astute and painstaking contribution to a neglected part of the foundations of economic theory that looks esoteric on the surface but is in fact of pervasive practical importance.' Journal of Economic Methodology