A History of Economic Thought

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 393 pages
• Published by: Princeton University Press November 15, 2000
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0691070148
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0691070148
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Weighs: 1.2 pounds

From Library Journal
Robbins taught at the London School of Economics (LSE) from 1929 to 1961, directed the economic section of the British War Cabinet during World War II, and served as chair of the Financial Times from 1961 until 1970. In 1980, he began a series of 33 lectures at LSE in which he discussed the history of economic thought, from Plato and Aristotle to Alfred Marshall and John Maynard Keynes, and the intellectual and practical errors associated with its development. With a profound sense of humor and highly engaging anecdotes, this master teacher provided an unusual opportunity to discover not only the ideas but also the very different frames of reference that inspired the contributions of these great minds to our present understanding of economics. Essential reading for instructors, students, and practitioners alike, this is highly recommended for both academic and public libraries.ANorman B. Hutcherson, Beale Memorial Lib., Bakersfield, CA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Review
Robbins obviously loved the history of economic thought, but the passion that shows through on each page of this book is more than a passion for the history of economics. Robbins loved the discipline of economics itself, and the lectures reflect the gusto with which he had spent his life pursuing its extreme proficiency. -- Review

[Robbins'] lectures reflect the gusto with which he had spent his life pursuing its extreme proficiency. -- Bradley W. Bateman, EH.NE

Reader Reviews
This series of lectures sheds light on the major contributors to Economic thought since Plato and Aristotle. Since the book is made up of transcripts of his lectures, he doesn't manage to cover the figures or the ideas in depth. However he does manage to give some guidelines as to what you should read if you want to be well informed on the history of Economic thought. I did not find the language in it frustrating, it just made the book seem like a personal lecture with Robbins (minus the questions) which added to my enjoyment. He stops at Fisher, so if you were hoping for ideas and icons after that, you will be disappointed. The book is split into five sections. The first deals with those philosophers that preceded the formal study of economics; Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas etc... Very interesting stuff, especially if you aren't familiar with the relationship between the ancients and economics. The second to the fourth sections deal with famous economists, from Adam Smith to Karl Marx. His treatment of Marx is brief so don't expect anything more than a few pages. While he goes into some length about Adam Smith and the other classical economists. Finally he lectures on Jevons, Menger and others of the "Marginal Revolution", ending his series of lectures with Fisher. A good read, I would recommend it to undergraduates in Economics or any one else who is interested in the history of economic ideas.