Economic models as argumentative devices

This article critically evaluates Itzhak Gilboa, Andrew Postlewaite, Larry Samuelson, and David Schmeidler’s account of economic models. First, it gives a selective overview of their argument, highlighting their emphasis on similarity and oversight of the role of idealizations in economics. Second, it proposes a sketch of an account of models as arguments and argumentative devices. This account not only sheds light on Gilboa et al.’s approach, including its shortcomings, but also identifies key challenges in model-based inference, suggesting a fresh perspective on the uses of models in economics for diverse objectives.