Philosophical and Methodologial Issues in Economics
 | 2004 (26) Issue 2 Guest-Editors: Mark S. Peacock / Michael Schefczyk The 'dismal science of economics', as it was once called, has a mixed reputation. Some praise its clarity and elegance whilst others bewail its futility; others laud the precision of its mathematical form whereas others still descry the source of its irrelevance and unrealism in just this form. Many feel that precision and mathematisation are bought at a price too high, namely unrealistic assumptions, empty models with little or no explanatory power, unreliable predictions and a general state of |
Trust and Community on the Internet. Opportunities and Restrictions for Online Cooperation
 | 2004 (26) Issue 1 Guest-Editors: Bernd Lahno / Uwe Matzat Early studies in the area of Internet Research emphasized the deficiencies that computer-mediated communication as opposed to face-to-face communication would have. The chances for the evolution of cooperative relationships on the Internet were assessed sceptically. Present research findings correct this point of view. In spite of a missing central authority, without formal controls and sanctions, with anonymity and easy-to-use exit options there is not only chaos and anomy on the Internet. Rath |