Deze serie duikt in het diepgaande landschap van economisch denken, waarbij de cruciale figuren worden onderzocht die ons begrip van markten, welvaart en maatschappelijke systemen hebben gevormd. Elk deel biedt een toegankelijke verkenning van de levens en werken van visionairs, variërend van klassieke tot hedendaagse economen. Lezers zullen fundamentele theorieën en hun blijvende impact op de moderne wereld ontdekken. Het is essentiële lectuur voor iedereen die geïnteresseerd is in de intellectuele geschiedenis van de economie.
Focusing on the life of John Maynard Keynes, the book delves into the development of his influential General Theory and highlights its distinctions from classical economic theories. It provides a thorough examination of the theory itself, alongside an analysis of its profound impact on postwar economics and its relevance to contemporary economic thought.
The book offers an in-depth exploration of Robertson's life and contributions to economics, highlighting the sources of his inspiration and the connection between his personal experiences and professional ideas. It serves as a valuable resource for those looking to gain a deeper understanding of this influential economist and his impact on the field.
Focusing on the work of Arthur Cecil Pigou, this book reinterprets his contributions to economics, particularly in economic welfare and policy analysis. It aims to clarify common misconceptions surrounding his theories by providing a comprehensive examination of his writings. Emphasizing Pigou's pragmatic and historicist approach, the text serves as a thorough exploration of his ideas and their relevance in the field of economics.
Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) was a leading figure in the British classical school of economics, best-known for extending the insights of Adam Smith at a time of revolutionary improvements in agriculture and industry. This book explores the way in which he accounted for the tendency to overpopulation, the exhaustion of arable land and the deficiency of effective demand. Malthus relied on historical and empirical evidence in the spirit of Bacon and Hume, but also backed up his data with a priori hypotheses that link him to his contemporary, David Ricardo. Malthus was strongly in favour of free trade, the minimal State, the gold standard and the abolition of poverty relief. Always a pragmatist, however, he was just as much in favour of public education, contra-cyclical public works and a safety net of tariffs and bounties to encourage national self-sufficiency with regard to food. He was both an economist and a clergyman and saw the two roles as interconnected. Malthus believed that a benevolent Deity had created vice and misery in order to shake human beings out of their natural indolence that would otherwise have condemned them to still greater distress. This title provides a clear and comprehensive examination of Malthus’s economic and social thought. It will be of interest to students and scholars alike.
This book explores the life and work of Austrian-British economist, political economist, and social philosopher, Friedrich Hayek. Set within a context of the recent financial crisis, alongside the renewed interest in Hayek and the Hayek-Keynes debate, the book introduces the main themes of Hayek’s thought. These include the division of knowledge, the importance of rules, the problems with planning and economic management, and the role of constitutional constraints in enabling the emergence of unplanned order in the market by limiting the perverse incentives and distortions in information often associated with political discretion. Key to understanding Hayek's development as a thinker is his emphasis on the knowledge problem that economic decision makers face and how alternative institutional arrangements either hinder or assist them in overcoming that epistemic dilemma. Hayek saw order emerging from individual action and responsibility under the appropriate institutional order that itself emerges from actors discovering new and better ways to coordinate their behavior. This book will be of interest to all those keen to gain a deeper understanding of this great 20th century thinker in economics.
The book provides a concise exploration of Marshall's life and contributions as an economist, highlighting key aspects such as his education, travels, and teaching roles at prestigious institutions like Cambridge, Oxford, and Bristol. It also delves into his policy perspectives presented to government inquiries, along with his political and social views, offering a comprehensive understanding of his influence on economic thought.
Exploring the ideas of Frank Knight and the Chicago School, this book highlights Knight's concept of "Knightian Uncertainty" and its relevance in today's economic landscape post-Financial Crisis. It delves into Knight's early life and the development of his economic philosophy, assessing his lasting legacy. Readers interested in the intersections of political, religious philosophy, and economics will find valuable insights into Knight's influence on modern economic thought and its implications for society.