<p>For most part different 'schools of thought' do not have different definitions of terms. New Keynesian definition of GDP is the same as Keynesian definition of GDP or Neoclassical definition of GDP or any other 'school of thought' that you can think of. Marginal utility also has the same definition across economics.  This is because terminology is not about interpretation but about definitions and most of the time it makes sense for people to agree on one definition so everyone can understand each other.</p>
<p>This is because in a modern context distinguishing among schools is much less useful than in past (save for classification) since nowadays any idea that can get empirical support will eventually be accepted. For example, it is no longer even valid to say that modern mainstream is just neoclassical synthesis (neoclassical economics + New Keynesian economics) since now it comprises of behavioral economics, institutional economics etc. In fact even historically mainstream economics always absorbed ideas from everywhere (you will find Austrian influences in theories on prices, Marx is why we use <span class="math-container">$K$</span> for capital etc.) although less so than in the present.</p>
<p>When terms have different definitions it is usually not across 'schools of thought' (although there might be some exceptions) but across sub-fields. For example, the definition of technology is more narrow in the growth theory than in microeconomics.</p>
<p>Good economic dictionaries are:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics</a> (this is probably the most comprehensive one)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.economist.com/economics-a-to-z" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Economist: Economics A-Z</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199696321.001.0001/acref-9780199696321" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Oxford A Dictionary of Economics</a></li>
</ul>
<p>The above provide reasonably well overview of definitions used in economics. Most textbooks, especially undergraduate ones, will have 'glossary' at the end where you can find terminology as well.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-20T12:42:57.520Z
2020-12-20T12:42:57.520Z
1muflon1
<p>Do economic dictionaries distinguish between different interpretations of terms in different economic schools of thought, or are there different dictionaries for different schools of thought?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-20T13:02:41.887Z
There are some basic concepts that all economists should know. A lot of them are defined in the book by Mas-Colell, Whinston and Green. Other than that you have to define carefully all the expressions you use or cite the paper that introduced the concept.
Bayesian
<reference-request><definition>
Which are commonly used economics dictionaries?
sba222
# Which are commonly used economics dictionaries?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-20)

Do economic dictionaries distinguish between different interpretations of terms in different economic schools of thought, or are there different dictionaries for different schools of thought?

**Tags:** reference-request, definition

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There are some basic concepts that all economists should know. A lot of them are defined in the book by Mas-Colell, Whinston and Green. Other than that you have to define carefully all the expressions you use or cite the paper that introduced the concept.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-12-20. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

For most part different 'schools of thought' do not have different definitions of terms. New Keynesian definition of GDP is the same as Keynesian definition of GDP or Neoclassical definition of GDP or any other 'school of thought' that you can think of. Marginal utility also has the same definition across economics. This is because terminology is not about interpretation but about definitions and most of the time it makes sense for people to agree on one definition so everyone can understand each other.

This is because in a modern context distinguishing among schools is much less useful than in past (save for classification) since nowadays any idea that can get empirical support will eventually be accepted. For example, it is no longer even valid to say that modern mainstream is just neoclassical synthesis (neoclassical economics + New Keynesian economics) since now it comprises of behavioral economics, institutional economics etc. In fact even historically mainstream economics always absorbed ideas from everywhere (you will find Austrian influences in theories on prices, Marx is why we use $K$ for capital etc.) although less so than in the present.

When terms have different definitions it is usually not across 'schools of thought' (although there might be some exceptions) but across sub-fields. For example, the definition of technology is more narrow in the growth theory than in microeconomics.

Good economic dictionaries are:

* [The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics](https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5) (this is probably the most comprehensive one)
* [The Economist: Economics A-Z](https://www.economist.com/economics-a-to-z)
* [Oxford A Dictionary of Economics](https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199696321.001.0001/acref-9780199696321)

The above provide reasonably well overview of definitions used in economics. Most textbooks, especially undergraduate ones, will have 'glossary' at the end where you can find terminology as well.


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