The Economics of Scientific Misconduct: Fraud, Replication Failure, and Research Ethics in Empirical Inquiry

329 Pages·2022·4.884 MB·English

by  James R. Wible

The Economics of Scientifc
Misconduct
The Economics of Scientifc Misconduct explores episodes of misconduct in
the natural and biomedical sciences and replication failure in economics
and psychology over the past h alf- century. Here scientifc misconduct is
considered from the perspective of a single discipline such as economics
likely for the frst time in intellectual history.
Research misconduct has become an important concern across many nat-
ural, medical, and social sciences, including economics, over the past h alf-
century. Initially, a mainstream economic approach to science and scientifc
misconduct draws from conventional microeconomics and the theories of
Becker, Ehrlich, and C. S. Peirce’s “ economy of research.” Then the works
of Peirce and Thorstein Veblen from the 19th century point toward contem-
porary debates over statistical inference in econometrics and the failure of
recent macroeconomic models. In more contemporary economics, clashes
regarding discrimination and harassment have led to a Code of Profes-
sional Conduct from the American Economic Association and a Code of
Ethics from one of its members. The last chapter considers research ethics
matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been an explosion
of research and some retractions. More generally, a concern with research
ethics contributes to scientifc progress by making some of its most diff-
cult problems more transparent and understandable and thus possibly more
surmountable.
This book offers valuable insights for students and scholars of research
ethics across the sciences, philosophy of science and social science, and eco-
nomic theory.
James R. Wible is a Professor of Economics at the University of New Hamp-
shire in Durham, NH. His research interests are economic methodology
related to macro and monetary economics, the economics and philoso-
phy of Charles Sanders Peirce, and the economics of science and research
misconduct.
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The Economics of Scientifc Misconduct
Fraud, Replication Failure, and Research Ethics in Empirical Inquiry
James R. Wible
For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/
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The Economics of Scientifc
Misconduct
Fraud, Replication Failure, and Research
Ethics in Empirical Inquiry
James R. Wible
First published 2023
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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© 2023 James R. Wible
The right of James R. Wible to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
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explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library C ataloguing-i n-P ublication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Wible, James R., 1951- author.
Title: The economics of scientific misconduct : fraud, replication failure,
and research ethics in empirical inquiry / James R. Wible.
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, 2023. |
Series: Routledge advances in social economics | Includes bibliographical
references and index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2022009801 (print) | LCCN 2022009802 (ebook) | ISBN
9780367443603 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032320854 (paperback) | ISBN
9781003009252 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Research—Economic aspects. | Research—Moral and
ethical aspects. | Science—Social aspects. | Fraud in science.
Classification: LCC HC79.R4 W53 2023 (print) | LCC HC79.R4 (ebook) |
DDC 338/.064—dc23/eng/20220404
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022009801
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022009802
ISBN: 978- 0- 367- 44360- 3 ( hbk)
ISBN: 978- 1- 032- 32085- 4 ( pbk)
ISBN: 978- 1- 003- 00925- 2 ( ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/ 9781003009252
Typeset in Times New Roman
by codeMantra
To my brother Ed and
my sisters Patti and Nancy,
three of the most loving, honest,
and ethical people I have ever known.

Contents
List of Figures xi
List of Tables xii
Acknowledgements xiii
1 Introduction 1
Preview 1
Scientifc Misconduct as an Abductive Surprise 6
More on C. S. Peirce and the Economics of Scientifc and
Mathematical Research 9
Science as a Strategic Game 11
The Ultimate Economic Critique: Is This All a Waste of the
Scientist’s Time? 12
Ethics and the Political Economy of Science 17
2 Scientifc Misconduct in the Late 20th and Early 21st Centuries 24
Introduction 24
The Late 20th Century Wave of Scientifc Misconduct 26
The Millennial Wave of Scientifc Misconduct 31
Millennial Period Surveys of Scientifc Misconduct 35
Conclusions 37
3 Replication Failure, Plagiarism, and Questionable Research
Practices in Economics and Psychology 42
Introduction 42
Concepts of Replication in Science 43
The JMCB Replication Project 46
Feldstein’s Computation Error for Social Security and
Private Saving 50
Reinhart and Rogoff’s Coding Errors for Sovereign Debt
and Growth 51
viii Contents
Misconduct, Plagiarism, and Questionable Research Practices
in Economics and Other Disciplines 53
Replication Failure in Psychology 58
Conclusions 61
4 The Unusual Economic Fundamentals of Science and Universities 68
Introduction 68
A Standard Market Economy without Science and
Higher Education 69
An Economy with Science and Higher Education 74
Science as a Public Good: The Positive Externality Theory 77
An Economic Model of Higher Education with Costs
of Plagiarism 82
An Economic Model of Science with Costs of Research Integrity 87
Conclusions 91
5 The Economics of Replication Failure and the Preference
Structures of Scientists 97
Introduction 97
Replication Failure as an Economic Phenomenon 98
Preference Structures of Scientists 102
An Economic Model of Replication Failure 105
Some Extensions of the Logic of Replication Failure 110
Conclusions 114
Mathematical Appendix: The Becker Model of the Allocation
of Time 115
6 The Economics of Fraud in Science and the Preferences of
Misbehaving Scientists 123
Introduction 123
Episodes of Fraud in Science 124
Fraud and the Credibility of Science 126
An Economic Approach to Fraud in Science 128
Strategic Aspects of Scientifc Misconduct and
Game Theory 133
Conclusions 137
Mathematical Appendix: The Ehrlich Model of Choice Under
Uncertainty 138
7 Peirce’s Economy of Scientifc Research, Replication,
and Accuracy 144
Introduction 144
Contents ix
The Role of Economics in Peirce’s Thought 145
Peirce’s Economic Model of Research Project Selection and
Replication 148
Game Theoretic Aspects of Peirce’s Economy of
Scientifc Research 153
The Notion of Probable Error and the Logic of
Statistical Inference 155
A Random Experiment in the Psychology of
Sensation 156
Nicholas Rescher on Peirce’s Economy of Research as
Cost- Beneft Analysis 158
Conclusions 161
Mathematical Appendix: Peirce’s Model of the Economy of
Research 162
8 Questionable Research Practices in Late 19th Century America 169
Introduction 169
Scientifc Research in America at the Centennial 170
Authorship Problems at Johns Hopkins 173
Research Funding for the Coast Survey and
Problems with Congress 175
An Episode of Research Fraud and More Clashes with
Newcomb and James 177
Conclusions 181
9 Peirce’s Economy of Historical Research and His Defense of
Aristotle, Plato, and Pythagoras 186
Introduction 186
On the Economy of Historical Research 187
The Authenticity of Aristotle’s Writings 194
Pythagoras Was Not Too Mystical 197
Plato Did Not Plagiarize the Phaedrus 198
Conclusions 200
10 Veblen and Peirce on Contested Research Practices in Economics 204
Introduction 204
Veblen’s Critique of Neoclassical Economics 205
Path Dependence: Yalcintas’ Veblenian Critique of
Contemporary Economics and Science Failure 210
A Peircean Perspective on Path Dependence and the
Complicating Role of Mathematics in Economics 215
Conclusions 222