The line of research pursued by Albert Hirschman,
culturally open to the various fields of
the social sciences, is in illuminating contrast with
the risks of retreat in a cultural ivory tower under
the false colours of technicalities and specialist
formalism introduced into economic science. The
works of A. Hirschman represent a "voice" of decisive
importance when faced with the challenges
for economic research as it comes up against the
crucial problems of humanity and for choices in
economic policy in defence of the interests of
the community as a whole, especially in this prolonged
period of international economic crisis.
In these pages certain crucial aspects of Albert
Hirschman's research are addressed not only to
commemorate the work of a master but also to
open the way to some serious thinking about the
directions he proposes to tackle the issues that
economists and policy makers will be encountering
in the next few years.