Ebook: Economic Analysis in Historical Perspective

This book concentrates on major "ideas" in economics, rather than taking the "great men" approach to the history of economic thought. It approaches the subject from the viewpoint of the modern literature, rather than working forwards from the historical material. The student should thus be able to more easily relate previous economic writings to the subject matter of an undergraduate course. Six specialist essays cover monetary economics statistics and econometrics, and some aspects of the balance of payments. This approach should make the student more readily aware of the wide range of issues involved in current debates, many of which are related to earlier economic controversies. By focusing on ideas rather than techniques, the book also help students to recognize the larger issues, and give them a broader perspective. Each essay is provided with an extensive bibliography which should be of particular use to postgraduate students, particularly those wishing to pursue in more detail some of the historical material discussed. Because the book covers issues normally omitted from histories of economic thought, especially public finance and econometrics, it aims to be successful in broadening the understanding of the student