The Age of the Economist

by Daniel R. Fusfeld

Fusfeld's clear writing style and explanations make The Age of the Economist accessible to, and appropriate for economists and non-economists alike. Intended for many introductory courses, this short text chronicles the development of modern economics through discussions of the major schools of thought and through biographical sketches of key figures. It demonstrates the relevance of basic economic ideas to the great debates of our own times, and it emphasizes how events, ideologies, and changing economic institutions influence the relationship between economic theory and policy. The ninth edition has been updated throughout, and chapter 15, "The New Economy," brings readers to the 21st century through a discussion of technology, free trade, and globalization.

Genres: Economics

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[Louis]

A great concise overview of the history economic thought. If you want a decent and lucid primer on the history of economic thought, this is the place to start. It summaries the most important positions of economists and places them in their historical settings.

[Glen]

I expected a dry history of economic thought, the kind of book you assign rather than read. It isn't that. At all.

Fusfeld puts economic ideas back in the rooms where they were argued. The theories that eventually became the diagrams I dutifully copied down in business school began as fights about real problems, made by people responding to the economies they could actually see out the window: mercantilists watching gold leave the country, Smith watching a pin factory, Keynes watching the 1930s happen. By the time an idea has a graph and a name, it's easy to forget it started as someone's argument with the world as it was.

That did more for my interest in economics than the coursework ever managed. Ideas have assumptions, blind spots, and expiration dates, even after somebody gives them a curve and starts teaching them as if they'd arrived fully formed. Fusfeld is very good at showing you the date stamped on the bottom.

[James]

Surveying the history of economics from Adam Smith's day to the 1990s for those with interest but not expertise in the field, Rusfeld (U. of Michigan) explores the ideas and events which shaped competing economic theories over the past 200 years: e.g., Marxism, women and the economy, the Keynesian r

[Addie]

There were times in this book that I thought Fusfeld was getting a little too editorial, but maybe there’s no other way to tell history—sooner or later, your stance or opinions creep in, and that is only human. All in all, I think he did a pretty good job. I definitely learned a lot and thought about the development of economic thought in a new way.

[Jessica]

A digestible overview of the history of economic thought, putting economic theories in their social and political contexts, unfortunately it only went to 2001. Should be mandatory reading for economics students.

[áxel márquez carrillo]

del 1966. de los libros que leí cuando me quedé sin celular. buen repaso. en los capítulos sobre el comunismo saca el peine, pero todo bien, es un libro de 3,000 palabras y de hojas recicladas. está bueno para regalarlo a quienes piensan que Economía es ser 1. o muy chairo 2. o muy financiero

[Tommy]

Much broader and ideologically contextualized than what you'd usually encounter in such a work (from Aquinas to Horatio Alger, NSC-68, liberation theology and Alan Greenspan).

[Jakob]

Didnt really feel it

[Animesh Mitra]

An elementary book on the history of economic thought.

[Adrian Colesberry]

This is a text for college classes that I found difficult but educational. I read it before reading Wealth of Nations, thinking that I'd benefit from an introduction. I ended up finding Smith a much easier read than this, but maybe that's because I read this first.

[Scott]

Good basic overview of history of economic thought. Would recommend to anyone without a background in economics. For a more scholarly and detailed discussion turn to A History of Economic Theory and Method by Robert B. Ekelund Jr. and Robert F. Hebert.

[kris]

Very informative overview of economic policies that is relatively clear and easy to understand.