A History of Economic Thought
Author: Lionel Robbins, Steven G. Medema, Warren J. Samuels
List Price: $22.95
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 0691070148
Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr (15 November, 2000)
Sales Rank: 258,822
Average Customer Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5
A quick walk through the history of Economics.
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.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Lectures
This is a collection of lectures given at the LSE. So DON'T think it is a history. Nevertheless, it is a comprehensive journey from aristotle's economica thru the modern era. Good as a reference. Not bad as a read -- but be aware you are reading a transcribed lecture and adjust your expectations accordingly.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Outstanding summary of economic thought!
A well-organized and well-considered series of concise lectures are codified in this book. This is a substantial, but not overwhelming, chronology of the more influential contributors to economic history and thought. Similar Products
Wealth of Nations (Great Minds Series)
History of Economic Analysis
Economic Theory in Retrospect
The Worldly Philosophers : The Lives, Times And Ideas Of The Great Economic Thinkers
Essays on Economics and Economists
Book Index