Joan Robinson, (1903-1983), is widely considered to be amongst the greatest economists of the twentieth century. After the success of her first book, The Economics of Imperfect Competition, Joan Robinson shifted her attention to Keynes's work. She was one of Keynes's circle of trusted colleagues, studying the theoretical possibilities offered by his General Theory.
This comprehensive study of Joan Robinson recounts her intellectual development and her major contributions, examining; her role in the making of The General Theory, her sympathetically critical interest in Marxian economics, her contributions to Labour Party policy in the 1930s and 1940s, her writings on development in China and India and her critique of the conceptual foundations of mainstream economics. Joan Robinson's story is intricately entwined with the story of Cambridge economics in the twentieth century, taking in major changes in the way economics was thought about, done and taught.
This book is not only indispensable reading for all interested in the history of Joan Robinson's life and work, but also to those studying Keynesian, Post-Keynesianism and economic development.
"Joan Robinson' is a welcome and timely reminder of Robinson's intelligence, energy, passionate commitment to social justice, and tireless capacity for debate. It portrays two voyages of intellectual discovery: the evolution of Robinson's thinking, with a due appreciation for her successes and failures; and Kerr and Harcourt's own measured re-evaluation of the post-Keynesian revolution in which Robinson and they played central roles. The reconsideration of Joan Robinson's life and work is one important starting-point in the broad effort to understand the evolution of twentieth-century economics and to imagine a future for economic analysis outside the narrow confines of neoliberal dogma." - Duncan K. Foley, Leo Model Professor, New School for Social Research, External Professor, Santa Fe Institute, US.
Preface
Acknowledgements
Figures
Introduction
The Economics of Imperfect Competition
Joan Robinson and her circle in the run up to, and the aftermath of The General Theory
Marx in Joan Robinson's Argument
Joan Robinson and socialist planning in the years of high theory
The Making of The Accumulation of Capital
The Choice of Technique in the Economy as a Whole and the Cambridge Debates in the Theory of Capital:Joan Robinson's Role.
After The Accumulation of Capital: Defence and Development
Joan Robinson's Contributions to Development Economics as Political Economy
An Introduction to Modern Economics: a Light that Failed?
A Concerned Intellectuals Task: Joan Robinson's Three Popular Books
Conclusion: Joan Robinson's Legacy
References
G. C. HARCOURT was born in 1931 in Melbourne, Australia. He is a graduate of the Universities of Melbourne and Cambridge. He has taught mainly at Adelaide and Cambridge Universities, and was a friend and colleague of Joan Robinson for many years. He is co-author and co-editor of 25 books including seven volumes of selected essays and 230 papers in learned journals and edited volumes. His books include Some Cambridge Controversies in the Theory of Capital, Post-Keynesian Essays in Biography, 50 Years a Keynesian and other Essays, Selected Essays on Economic Policy and The Structure of Post-Keynesian Economics.
PRUE KERR was a friend and associate of Joan Robinson in Cambridge. She edited, with Geoffrey Harcourt, the five volume: Joan Robinson: Critical Assessments of Leading Economists. She was supported by the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Bologna and the CPEST. She now works on post-Keynesian economic theory.
Description
Joan Robinson, (1903-1983), is widely considered to be amongst the greatest economists of the twentieth century. After the success of her first book, The Economics of Imperfect Competition, Joan Robinson shifted her attention to Keynes's work. She was one of Keynes's circle of trusted colleagues, studying the theoretical possibilities offered by his General Theory.
This comprehensive study of Joan Robinson recounts her intellectual development and her major contributions, examining; her role in the making of The General Theory, her sympathetically critical interest in Marxian economics, her contributions to Labour Party policy in the 1930s and 1940s, her writings on development in China and India and her critique of the conceptual foundations of mainstream economics. Joan Robinson's story is intricately entwined with the story of Cambridge economics in the twentieth century, taking in major changes in the way economics was thought about, done and taught.
This book is not only indispensable reading for all interested in the history of Joan Robinson's life and work, but also to those studying Keynesian, Post-Keynesianism and economic development.
Reviews
"Joan Robinson' is a welcome and timely reminder of Robinson's intelligence, energy, passionate commitment to social justice, and tireless capacity for debate. It portrays two voyages of intellectual discovery: the evolution of Robinson's thinking, with a due appreciation for her successes and failures; and Kerr and Harcourt's own measured re-evaluation of the post-Keynesian revolution in which Robinson and they played central roles. The reconsideration of Joan Robinson's life and work is one important starting-point in the broad effort to understand the evolution of twentieth-century economics and to imagine a future for economic analysis outside the narrow confines of neoliberal dogma." - Duncan K. Foley, Leo Model Professor, New School for Social Research, External Professor, Santa Fe Institute, US.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Figures
Introduction
The Economics of Imperfect Competition
Joan Robinson and her circle in the run up to, and the aftermath of The General Theory
Marx in Joan Robinson's Argument
Joan Robinson and socialist planning in the years of high theory
The Making of The Accumulation of Capital
The Choice of Technique in the Economy as a Whole and the Cambridge Debates in the Theory of Capital:Joan Robinson's Role.
After The Accumulation of Capital: Defence and Development
Joan Robinson's Contributions to Development Economics as Political Economy
An Introduction to Modern Economics: a Light that Failed?
A Concerned Intellectuals Task: Joan Robinson's Three Popular Books
Conclusion: Joan Robinson's Legacy
References
Authors
G. C. HARCOURT was born in 1931 in Melbourne, Australia. He is a graduate of the Universities of Melbourne and Cambridge. He has taught mainly at Adelaide and Cambridge Universities, and was a friend and colleague of Joan Robinson for many years. He is co-author and co-editor of 25 books including seven volumes of selected essays and 230 papers in learned journals and edited volumes. His books include Some Cambridge Controversies in the Theory of Capital, Post-Keynesian Essays in Biography, 50 Years a Keynesian and other Essays, Selected Essays on Economic Policy and The Structure of Post-Keynesian Economics.
PRUE KERR was a friend and associate of Joan Robinson in Cambridge. She edited, with Geoffrey Harcourt, the five volume: Joan Robinson: Critical Assessments of Leading Economists. She was supported by the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Bologna and the CPEST. She now works on post-Keynesian economic theory.
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