Great Economists Before Keynes: An Introduction To the Lives and Work of One Hundred Great Economists of the Past

Great Economists Before & Since Keynes #1

by Mark Blaug

In Great Economists before Keynes, a chronological guide is included for readers wishing to trace the development of economic thought from early mercantilist writings to the pivotal work of John Maynard Keynes. Each article briefly discusses the life and enduring contributions of economists such as Adam Smith, Alfred Marshall, David Ricardo, and Leon Walras. Wherever possible, portraits accompany the text. Mark Blaug is Emeritus Professor of the Economics of Education at the University of London Institute of Education, and Consultant Professor at the University of Buckingham. He is the author of numerous articles and books in the field of economics and economic history, including Economic Theory in Retrospect (CUP, Fourth Edition, 1985), an established classic in the field.

Genres: Economics

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 1987

About the author

Mark Blaug is a British economist (naturalised in 1982), who has covered a broad range of topics over his long career. In 1955 he received his PhD from Columbia University in New York. Besides shorter periods in public service and in international organisations he has held academic appointments in - among others - Yale University, the University of London, the London School of Economics and the University of Buckingham. He currently lives in Leiden and works as Visiting Professor in the Netherlands, University of Amsterdam and Erasmus University in Rotterdam, where he is also co-director of CHIMES (Center for History in Management and Economics).
Mark Blaug has made far reaching contributions to a range of topics in economic thought throughout his career. Apart from valuable contributions to the economics of art and the economics of education, he is best known for his work in history of economic thought and the methodology of economics.

Reviews

[Pedro Almeida Jorge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful and handy introduction to the lives and ideas of 100 economists/social scientists who laboured "before" John Maynard Keynes. I enjoyed this format a lot and learned many things from Blaug, even though in the age of wikipedia I probably could have easily gathered the same trivia. However, Blaug added some nice simple explanations and a personal touch to all of it. Even if I may not agree with his choices (i would change some 5 names, perhaps) or some of his appraisals, his impartiality of treatment (to its possible extent) was very much welcome and provided for a nice, light kind of reading.

My main objection is that his bibliographical references are mostly irrelevant and the book would be much more useful if he simply provided a list of the authors' main works at the end of each chapter... (yes, this should be obvious, but its absent...)

P.S: Austrian friends, Mises and Hayek are included in the follow up volume, named Great Economists Since Keynes: An Introduction to the Lives & Works of One Hundred Modern Economists, not on this one.