Ocean freight rates and economic research

Abstract

The objective of any economic research is the discovery of truth. Any research which starts with the objective of proving a thesis is almost bound to be defective unless the research workers concerned are truly impartial. This does not mean that the research can start without direction, but simply that the objective is the discovery of truth about the thesis, not the finding of facts which confirm or support the validity of a predetermined view.

This paper was submitted to the Special Session of the Committee on Shipping of UNCTAD in July 1966, and is reproduced here by permission of the United Nations. It originally carried a disclaimer, still valid, that the views expressed ‘are not necessarily those of the Secretariat of UNCTAD’. The paper is reprinted as originally written except for the deletion of a short summary which originally appeared at the end, the addition of a note and the deletion of an eight-word sentence which was unclear. A few minor editorial changes have also been made.