A History of Economic Theory: Classic Contributions, 1720-1980

By Jürg Niehans

Book Overview

A History of Economic Theory offers a comprehensive account of the builders and building blocks of modern mainstream economics. Jurg Niehans shows how the analytical tools used by economists have evolved from the eighteenth century to the present. Niehans first surveys the development of classical economics from the scholastic and mercantilist traditions to Marx. He then follows the progress of marginalist economics from Thunen to Fischer. In the book's final section, he describes economic theory in the model-building era from Pigou and Keynes to Rational Expectations.

Building his story around the economists themselves, Niehans presents a pantheon of economic theory. It includes the famous from Smith and Riccardo to Samuelson and Friedman, as well as detailed discussions of lesser-known figures who have nevertheless made classic contributions. For each theorist Niehans offers a biographical sketch followed by a description, interpretation, and critical assessment of his work. With the current revival of interest in the history of economics, economists will find A History of Economic Theory not only a rich source of information but also a challenging analysis of the dynamics of scientific progress.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801849764
• ISBN13: 9780801849763
• Release Date: October 1994
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.3" x 8.9"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Outstanding Reference on Economists and their schools

The only book I've seen, outside the Palgrave reference book, that gives brief vignettes on different economists and their schools. Author does not mince words, writes strong, and gets to the point. A nice one-volume tome. Also includes some mathematics, which is nice.