关于财政学的研究对象和方法

自斯密以来约250年财政学科研究对象和方法的源流变化及趋势,大体上可以分为三个阶段,即古典阶段(1750—1860)、新古典阶段(1860—1950)、现代阶段(1950—至今)。在古典阶段,主流派主要从"生产角度"研究"国富"问题,"国家"只是作为"非生产"的外生变量来对待,研究方法主要是定性的。在新古典阶段,主流派主要从"需求"角度研究"国富"问题,并且把研究范围拓展到"社会福利"和"经济稳定"问题,但"国家"仍然只是作为"市场机制"的外生变量来对待。在研究方法上则全方位采用"牛顿方法",甚至于把不可用货币量化的问题排斥于经济学的研究范围之外。在现代阶段,主流派把"国家"作为经济问题的内生变量进行研究,也涉及不可用货币量化的经济问题。但在处理"市场机制"和"非市场机制"的关系问题时,往往又把"国家"作为外生变量来对待。"现代主流经济学派"是极不成熟的,无论在基础理论方面还是在基本方法方面,都还需要创新,还不足以称为"理论体系"。

On Public Economics:Research Subjects & Methods

From the view of social development, science advancement, culture evolution and subject interaction, this article explores the development and tendency of public economics' research subjects and methods since Adam Smith time. This evolution for about 250 years can be divided into three phases: classical phase(1750-1860), neo-classical phase(1860-1950) and modern phase(from 1950 on). At the first phase, the mainstream economists studied "national wealth" from the point of "production", did with "nation" as non-production exogenous variable, and adopted qualitative approach. At the step of neo-classical, the mainstream economists researched "national wealth" from the point of "demand" and extended their research scope to "social welfare" and "economy stability". They also regarded "nation" as an exogenous variable of "market mechanism" and "Newton approach" was adopted as its research method. The problems that can't be measured by monetary was excluded. At modern phase, the mainstream economists study "nation" as an endogenous variable of economy and also involve economy problems that can't be measured by monetary. However, on the relationship between "market mechanism" and "non-market mechanism", they regard "nation" as an exogenous variable. "Modern mainstream economics school" is considerably out of mature and in need of innovation not only with fundamental theory but also with fundamental method. Hence, it's far away from "theoretical system". To these problems, this article puts forward responding viewpoints and concepts.