A History of Economic Theory and Method: Sixth Edition

Robert B. Ekelund, Jr. · Robert F. Hébert

Aug 2013 · Waveland Press

About this ebook

 
Known for its clarity,
comprehensiveness, and balance, the latest edition of A History of
Economic Theory and Method continues that tradition of excellence.
Ekelund and Hébert’s survey provides historical and international
contexts for how economic models have served social needs throughout the
centuries—beginning with the ancient Greeks through the present time.
The authors not only trace ideas that have persisted but skillfully
demonstrate that past, discredited ideas also have a way of spawning
critical thinking and encouraging new directions in economic analysis.
Coverage that distinguishes the Sixth Edition from its predecessors
includes a detailed analysis of economic solutions by John Stuart Mill
and Edwin Chadwick to problems raised by the Industrial Revolution; the
role of psychology and “experiments” in understanding demand and
consumer behavior; discussions of modern economic theory as it
interrelates with other social sciences; and a close look at the
historical development of the critical role of entrepreneurship, both in
its productive and unproductive variants. The authors’ creative
approach gives readers a feel for the thought processes of the great
minds in economics and underscores key ideas impacting contemporary
thought and practice. Well-crafted discussions are further enriched by
absorbing examples and figures. Thorough suggested reading lists give
options for more in-depth explorations by interested readers.