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Article: Using field experiments in the economics of charity.(Research Summaries)
- Article from:
- NBER Reporter
- Article date:
- December 22, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The experimental approach in scientific inquiry is commonly traced to Galileo Galilei, who pioneered the use of quantitative experiments to test his theories of falling bodies. (1) Extrapolating his experimental results to the heavenly bodies, he pronounced that the services of angels were not necessary to keep the planets moving, enraging the Church and disciples of Aristotle alike. For his efforts, Galileo is now viewed as the Father of Modern Science. Since the Renaissance, fundamental advances making use of the experimental method in the physical and biological sciences have been fast and furious. (2) Within economics, the use of controlled experiments has steadily ...