Answer to Question #320601 in Macroeconomics for Rose

Question

In the article “An early contribution to theoretical literature”, JC Harsanyi

cogently argues that economic decisions free of bias can be obtained by

placing decision makers in a position of ignorance. What is the further

opinion about the distribution of income according to Harsanyi?

Answer 1

Theoretical contribution is the most important question which will be asked everywhere during discussion or publication. What is your theoretical contribution? Many scholars are misunderstood that theoretical contribution is only the addition or subtraction of variables from theory. However, in actual it is not the theoretical contribution (Corley & Gioia, 2011; Dubin, 1976). Theoretical contribution has broader scope. The authors must be addressed that why they add or subtract any variable from existing variables in theory? And how change in the variable will effect on existing theory? So, these questions must be addressed during theoretical contribution. Without answering these questions no theoretical contribution is considered significant (Weick, 1989). Theoretical contribution is further divided into two dimensions. The first dimension is the originality. This dimension of theoretical contribution is also divided into two sub dimensions. These are incremental and revelatory (Corley & Gioia, 2011; Dubin, 1976). The first dimension of originality is incremental. This dimension will explain if some additional variable is added in the existing theory and how the addition of new variable will behave in current phenomena. How the current theory will change through the addition of this new variable. This is the main purpose of incremental contribution is to show how the new variable will change or improve existing theoretical framework (Glaser, Strauss, & Strutzel, 1968).