The Evolution of Economic Thought

by Stanley L. Brue, Randy Grant

In this scholarly and timely presentation of the history of economic thought, you'll see how new ideas, evidence, problems and values can be used to reconsider basic disputes and major contributions of the past. THE EVOLUTION OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT covers the history of economics, the philosophies that drive the economic way of thinking, the ideas of the great economic thinkers and their logical connections to the world. You'll see how Robert Solow's pioneering model can be used to discuss recent renewed emphasis on growth theory and technological change and will explore antitrust perspectives and game theory.

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction

560 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1975

Reviews

[Michael Thomas]

I have used this book in my classes for the last 9-10 years. It is a great work of conventional economics and radical ideas. It gives a framework through the five questions for each school of thought that lets you see both where radical challenges occur and where conservative values become retrenched. You get the sense that for all of human history we have been debating the same issues like equality, wellbeing, fairness, human flourishing, and progress. The book comes down on the side of progress, almost as an inevitable feature of human society, but it does not do so without reservations. After-all, how much can a society advance if you are a consistent economist who believes in trade-offs. Since the book has been written, the issues of global climate change and other problems of globalization have become more important to students, so a good instructor has to bring those issues in through the reference to people like Thomas Malthus who wrote in the 19th century and through other schools of thought. No one can read this book carefully and walk away without appreciating the different points of view from all the schools of thought. There is great charity in the way Brue wrote the original and how Grant continued the project in its later additions. If I could get everyone to read this book before talking about economics, I would. I consider it a great privilege to have a continuing conversation with students alongside Brue and Grant's and with their help.

[Monina]

great

[Kayesh]

nothing this time desperately want to read this book