Economic Theory in Retrospect

by Mark Blaug

Concentrates on the development of theory, with discussion of the 'great waves' from Adam Smith through Keynes and beyond. Suitable for undergraduate text use, this new edition takes full account of changes of the past decade.

Genres: Economics, History, Money, Philosophy

752 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

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

[Randal Samstag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blaug's book is really a crucial one for understanding the arc of economic theory from the physiocrats to Keynes. The fifth edition adds commentaries to several classics. He makes his likes (Marx in the early editions, the Austrians in later editions) and dislikes (Walras) clear, but tries to get to the heart of each major economic thinker. Infected with Popperism in later life.

[Gordof Mon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un libro que, para mi gusto, es bastante complejo y pesado.
En contenido teórico es excelente, pero siento que tiene una manera de explicar los temas un tanto ortodoxa, con mucho tecnicismo, eso fue lo que lo hizo denso. Si bien, las gráficas eran un apoyo, utilizaba la misma para explicarte dos o tres cosas, lo que hacía que se vieran saturadas. Las explicaciones matemáticas de las teorías me dejaron frito.

No sé, posiblemente el problema haya sido yo que no estaba listo para este libro.

- 3/5 ⭐
- 38:05 ⌛ ☠

Si, tardé 38 horas…

[Hossain Rakib · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book obviously deserves a five star but i do not understand why the rating is so low in here. this book is an encyclopedia itself. if anyone wants to study major (and also minor) economic thinkers then this is the perfect book.
the problem is it is very hard to crack. i even do not understand a lot of it but still, i think this is the best book on the history of economics.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

My well thumbed copy from my first degree days. Extremely useful.