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social science subjects > social research > philosophy and the social sciences > philosophy and economics > homo economicus
... > social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > political theory > empirical political theory > philosophy of social science > homo economicus
... > social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > political theory > modern political theory > philosophy of social science > homo economicus
social science subjects > social research > philosophy and the social sciences > philosophy of social science > homo economicus

Preferred term

homo economicus  

Definition

  • Homo economicus is a model of human behavior that explains social phenomena (including social interaction outside the market) in terms of economic behavior or what the received view construes as rational economic behavior: namely, as opportunity taking or (opportunistic) rational action. This basically Hobbesian model of man underlies most of the modern, rational choice approaches to explaining social phenomena. [Source: Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Social Sciences; Homo Economicus]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/homo_economicus

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