Neuroeconomics: The Odyssey

Armenian origin neuroeconomist, Varoozh
Sahakian, holds D.B.A., Ph.D degrees in Economics
& a Ph.D in Sociology. His disappointment with the
traditional neoclassical economic theory top-down
macho-biased approach to homo-economicus,
alongwith his belief that homo-sapines choice
behavior & decision-making is limited mainly by his/
her biology, or in other words, economics actually is a
part of biology science, motivated him to gather deep
knowledge about human bilology, brain & nervous
system, gender differences, genetic and hormonal &
chemical functions.
The Female brain unearths the neoclassical
economic theory biases/ anomalies, book is the fi rst of
two books the author has written about this newborn,
yet, burgeoning fi eld of Neuro-economics, a highly
promising human science approach to understanding
the neurobiological bases of human choice behavior
and decision-making processes.
The author presents a very promising and
blossoming scientifi c fi eld, which portrays a more
accurate and real & candid picture of human nature
than neoclassical reductionist economic theory.
In many aspects, neuroeconomics approach is a
positive , constructive one, helping to explain the
human capacity for kindness and cooperation and
the centrality of fairness to social emotions, morality &
norms (by-passed by many Walrasian and neoclassical
advocates).
The book, after all, introduces an economic
agent who is not necessarily acquisitive automation
conditioned always to narrow self-interest, like
neoclassical economic theorys unisex (macho)
or unsex, but can be a female &male, young & old
decision maker. In other words, it introduces a more
real, whole human: A Homo-Neuro-Economicus.
The most outstanding initiative of the book
is the introduction of a feminist economic theory,
its critical approach to the neoclassical economic
theory, supported interestingly not only by sociocultural/
historical insights but by neuro-biological,
psychological, gender, chemical & hormonal evidence,
too.
The author envisions, that this challenging
discipline is likely, once for all, to realize Adam Smith
& David Humes dream by providing;
A unifi ed theory of human choice behavior
and decision-making in the forthcoming future.