A Summary Of Neuroeconomics Theories

For orthodox neoclassical economics,rationality and stability of preferences composed the foundation of Economic Man's choice.But economics didn't answer those questions like:what's the foundation of rationality? How does preference come into being? Why preferences are steady? While the economic theories were continuously transformed into "scientific form" by using mathematics,some scholars questioned those abstractions too.By open up the "black box"—Brain, neuroeconomics tried to raise the civil-psychology basis of economics to a new level. The neural processes in the brain are the physical basis(in contrast with abstract psychological process) for human choices.At the point of evolution,therefore we share the similar brain structure with other animals,for economics it is reasonable to learn something from biology and neurosciences,which also meets its requirement for scientific methods.And in human brain there are some special functions(like rich affection) which are very important for us to learn human behavior too.In summary, the development of life science,especially neurosciences,started a new thread for economics to learn how people make choice.And by revealing the functions of the brain,the notions used by mainstream like utility,preference and welfare could be updated.The similar study domain leads to the combination of economics and neurosciences.And the development of neurosciences offered economics new scientific study methods.If the standard of scientific methodology is what economics pursuing,there must be great vistas for neuroeconomics.Neuroeconomics is a brand new research area for economics world-wide,and yet there's no unified frame work now.And domestic research works in this area is still at the stage of introduction and summary.The thread of this paper:Firstly by following a two-dimensional theoretical framework of neuroscience describe the bonding point of economics and neuroscience.And in my own opinion,this theoretical framework is very significant for behavior research,by using this framework neuroeconomics could build better models.Secondly give a instruction of some subfield which are prominent by using the study methods of neuroeconomics,like game theory,law and economics. This thesis includes five parts.Chapter 1,Instruction,give the definition,a brief summary and the developing history of neuroeconomics.Chapter 2,Application of Neuroscience methods:neuroeconomics' study methods is the combination of economic theories and research methods of neuroscience,and that's also the developing foundation of the whole subject.Chapter 3,Main results of Neuroscience and their economic significance:give a emphasis on the two-dimensional theoretical framework of neuroscience,and describes what it means to economic theories. Chapter 4,Implications of Neuroscience for Economics,which composed by two parts:elaboration of economic theory and contemporary trend in neruoeconomics. Chapter 5,Conclusion,gives a conclusion to this thesis,presents some flaws,and some probabilities where it could be in the future.