Economics Imperialism then and now: Ben Fine on the Changing Relationship between Economics and the Other Social Sciences.

This review essay critically examines the first two volumes of Ben Fine's selected journal writings on economics imperialism, a concept Fine uses to describe the expansion of economic theory and methods into other social sciences while retaining core neoclassical commitments. Fine identifies three phases of economics imperialism—from early applications of rational choice theory to broader incorporations of market imperfections, and finally to a more diffuse and "suspended" application of economic reasoning across diverse subjects—arguing that despite apparent changes, fundamental technical apparatuses such as utility maximization and equilibrium persist. The essay situates Fine's work within debates on the evolving nature of mainstream economics, heterodox critiques, and interdisciplinarity, highlighting Fine's concern that economics imperialism remains under-recognized and insufficiently challenged, especially by heterodox economists. It concludes that economics imperialism continues as "unfinished business," with ongoing relevance for understanding economics' disciplinary boundaries and its influence on social science.