A Brief History of Economic Thought

A clear and concise history of economic thought, developed from the author's award-winning book, The Wealth of Ideas.

Alessandro Roncaglia (Author)

9781107175334, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 September 2017

320 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2 cm, 0.57 kg

'HET [history of economic thought] brings to light multiple sources (and authorities) relating to various ideas which acts as a powerful antidote to the dominant monoculture in economics teaching and research.' Alex M. Thomas, Artha Vijnana

The evolution of economic thought can be traced back from its beginnings in classical antiquity up to the present day. In this book, Professor Alessandro Roncaglia offers a clear, concise and updated version of his award-winning The Wealth of Ideas, studying the development of economic thought through perspectives and debates on the economy and society over time. With chapters on prominent economic theorists, including William Petty, Karl Marx, and John Maynard Keynes, as well as on other important figures and key debates of each period, Roncaglia critically evaluates the foundations of the marginalist–neoclassical (scarcity–utility) approach in comparison to the Classical–Keynes approach. A comprehensive guide to the history of economic thought, this book will be of value not only to undergraduate and postgraduate students studying economic thought, but also to any readers desiring to study how economics has evolved up to the present day.

1. Introduction: the history of economic thought and its role
2. The prehistory of political economy
3. William Petty and the origins of political economy
4. From body politic to economic tables
5. Adam Smith
6. Economic science at the time of the French Revolution
7. David Ricardo
8. The Ricardians and the decline of Ricardianism
9. Karl Marx
10. The Marginalist Revolution: the subjective theory of value
11. The Austrian school and its neighbourhood
12. General economic equilibrium
13. Alfred Marshall
14. John Maynard Keynes
15. Joseph Schumpeter
16. Piero Sraffa
17. The age of disgregation.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Economic theory & philosophy [KCA], Economics [KC]