LINGUISTIC CONFUSION IN ECONOMICS: UTILITY, CAUSALITY, PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION, AND THE SUPPLY OF NATURAL RESOURCES
指出经济学中因语言使用不严谨导致的混淆与错误，通过效用、因果关系和自然资源稀缺性三个例子，倡导采用操作性定义以提升科学实践。
Lack of careful attention to the language used in the discussion of economic concepts has resulted in considerable confusion and error. 2 frequent sources of confusion include tautology and the absence of operational definitions of concepts. This paper outlines a more effective scientific practice through reference to 2 economic examples: 1) the concept of utility, where it is demonstrated that choice of an operational definition of the concept facilitates interpersonal comparisons; and 2) causality, where a multidimensional operational definition is needed to discriminate among the various meanings of the term in theoretical, empirical, and policy contexts. The paper further discusses the example of natural resource scarcity, where application of the term "finite" reveals that there is no empirical evidence of physical limits to growth in the use of resources. A more appropriate measure of scarcity is the economic concept of price.