Pluralism, economic rhetoric, and common property

This paper presents a preliminary discussion of different ideological traditions of economic thought. The philosophical foundations and methodological implications of neoclassical, institutional, and neo-Marxist political economy are discussed by building upon the “system of systems methodologies” as a starting “modelling space”. Drawing upon postmodern discourses, this typology is used as a rhetorical tool to assist with clear exposition. Two general applications are discussed, firstly a conceptual application to some contemporary perspectives of common property, and secondly a practical application to questions of investment in stormwater and wastewater. It is concluded that previously unrecognised common ground can emerge from attempts to communicate across traditional organisational and ideological divides.