Introducing Keynes: A Graphic Guide

By Peter Pugh

Book Overview

As we find ourselves at the cusp of an economic downturn, there has been a clear reinvigoration of Keynesian economics as governments are attempting to stimulate the market through public funds. Forming his economic theories in the wake of the Great Depression, John Maynard Keynes argued that a healthy economy depended on the total spending of consumers, business investors and, most importantly, governments too. Keynes formulated that governments should take control of the economy in the short term, rather than relying on the market, because, as he eloquently put it 'in the long run, we are all dead'. This graphic guide is the ideal introduction to one of the most influential economists of the 20th century, at a time when his theories may be crucial to our economic survival. Through a deft mixture of words and images, "Introducing Keynes" is a timely, accessible and enjoyable read.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 184831065X
• ISBN13: 9781848310650
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Icon Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.6" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

An excellent introduction to Keynes for sixth graders

Pugh's book is really a comic book exposition of Keynes the man and his life.Many of the pictures will hold the interest of the above average grammer school student.It presents a chronological history of Keynes from his birth to his death,fitting in details on Keynes's father,mother,brother,sister,friends,associates,economic ideas, and accomplishments along the way.The story is told in comic book style .One criticism of the book is the discussion of Keynes's "homosexuality"(Keynes up until 1922-23 would be more accurately categorized as gay-bisexual)on pp.24-25 and the summary contained on the backcover of the book.Pugh claims that Keynes was "...an open homosexual who later married a ballerina".There are two errors contained in this statement.First,Keynes was not open about his sexual practices with the general public.He was only open with his circle of close friends,the Bloomsbury group.Second,by the time Keynes married Lydia Lopokova,it was clear that he was straight and not gay.This conclusion is easily arrived at by anyone who has read the letters of correspondence between Keynes and Lopokova.

A Very Good Introduction to Keynes Economics

The great British economist John Maynard Keynes solved the riddle of the Great Depression - why the economy would not self-correct itself. Contrary to the false teachings of the extreme laissez-faire economists, severe instability in the economy had been witnessed for centuries and could never be explained or properly controlled. The Great Depression brought this issue to the forefront. Keynes had previously distinguished himself as a considerable economist. Then his General Theory ushered in the era of modern macroeconomics. Severe economics instability has never returned.Here is an overview I read on the Internet:"John Maynard Keynes remains the most brilliant and influential economist of the 20th century. His General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money overturned the conventional wisdom that a free market would automatically solve the problems of unemployment and economic depression. Keynes proposed that a healthy economy depends on the total spending of consumers, business and governments alike. "Alarmed by mass unemployment, governments throughout the capitalist world espoused Keynesian policies until they were superseded by monetarism in the 1970s. As the world veers towards slump again, is it time for Keynes to be revived?"'The illustrations are clever... the text is serious and well researched.'""'Financial Times'"