D P O'Brien

The Classical Economists Revisited conveys the extent, diversity, and richness of the literature of economics produced in the period extending from David Hume's Essays of 1752 to the final contributions of Fawcett and Cairnes in the 1870s. D. P. O'Brien thoroughly updates, rewrites, and expands the vastly influential work he first published in 1975, The Classical Economists. In particular, he sets out to make clear the shaping of a comprehensive vision of the working of an open economy, building on the great work of Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations, a development that was substantially affected by the contributions of David Ricardo. He shows that the Classical literature was in fact the work of a host of thinkers from a wide range of backgrounds. Covering the intellectual roots of the Classical literature and its methodological approaches, and the developed theories of value, distribution, money, trade, population, economic growth, and public finance, and examining the Classical attitudes toward a rich variety of policy issues, The Classical Economists Revisited considers not only the achievements of the Classical writers but also their legacy to the later development of economics. A seminal contribution to the field, this book will be treasured for many years to come by economists, historians of economics, instructors and their students, and anyone interested in the sweeping breadth and enduring influence of the classical economists.

This is one of the first complete surveys of McCulloch's work, and it shows his thought to have been far more complex and comprehensive than has previously been realized.

George Warde Norman, 1793-1882, a Director of the Bank of England 1821-72, was an important figure in both the development and the implementation of the theory of monetary control, embodied in the Bank Charter Act of 1844. Norman wrote an Autobiography covering his first 54 years, and this provides a remarkable portrait not only of Norman himself but of the social and intellectual network in which he lived. He was an intimate of the Utilitarians, especially George Grote with whom there was ultimately a quarrel which has never been made public before. He was a businessman, at first in the timber trade, in which connection he spent time in Norway, and made the acquaintance of Napoleon’s Marshall, Bernadotte, by then King of Sweden and Norway, and then in fire insurance. He also wrote on economic matters, not only on monetary issues but also on trade theory and taxation. The Autobiography, which has survived fire and flood, was rediscovered in the 1960s by D.P. O’Brien who at that time prepared a typescript which has been used by scholars. With the release of this edition, the work is now available for the first time in a fully edited and corrected version. It should be of interest to historians of economic thought, economic historians, and students of nineteenth century intellectual history and society.

The literature of monetary economics has been characterised by controversy and changes in the received wisdom throughout its history. The controversies have related not merely to the effects on incomes and prices of changes in the money supply, but even to the question of whether causality runs from money to incomes and prices or vice versa. This book begins with the pioneering work of the sixteenth century French writer Jean Bodin, followed by the celebrated John Law, and John Locke (and his eighteenth century critics). It considers both the theory and the evidence involved in the controversy between the Currency and Banking schools. Closely related to this was the work of two writers, Thomas Joplin and Walter Bagehot, both of whom provided perspectives strikingly different from those of the main controversialists and, in so doing, advanced the subject of monetary economics.The book seeks, through the examination of monetary controversies, to provide an historical perspective on modern understanding of monetary policy. It will be essential reading for economists with an interest in monetary economics and the history of economic thought.

This book restates the importance of the study of the history of ideas, in the context of the writings of economists. After an initial statement, a case study involving five methodological detours is considered. This is followed by an analysis of a flawed attempt to remedy the manifest deficiencies of the static general equilibrium model. A general overview of classical economics is followed by an account of the world of Alfred Marshall who did so much to bridge the gap between classical and neo-classical economics. The work of two great historians of economics, Edwin Cannan and J.R. McCulloch, is discussed, as well as that of Paul Samuelson who while a leading theorist has defied the narrow essentialism now fashionable, and remained a scholar. There are also three chapters dealing with one of the most learned writers on economics, Friedrich Hayek.Illustrated by discussions of methodological and historical issues, the book will be essential reading for economists, researchers and students of the history of economic thought.

This is one of the first complete surveys of McCulloch's work, and it shows his thought to have been far more complex and comprehensive than has previously been realized.

A set of eight volumes, these texts are designed to cover the literature of taxation from the late-17th century to the end of the 19th century. The writings focus on a number of themes, reflecting in turn the problems which revenue raisers have encountered over two centuries.

A set of eight volumes, these texts are designed to cover the literature of taxation from the late-17th century to the end of the 19th century. The writings focus on a number of themes, reflecting in turn the problems which revenue raisers have encountered over two centuries.

A set of eight volumes, these texts are designed to cover the literature of taxation from the late-17th century to the end of the 19th century. The writings focus on a number of themes, reflecting in turn the problems which revenue raisers have encountered over two centuries.

A set of eight volumes, these texts are designed to cover the literature of taxation from the late-17th century to the end of the 19th century. The writings focus on a number of themes, reflecting in turn the problems which revenue raisers have encountered over two centuries.

A set of eight volumes, these texts are designed to cover the literature of taxation from the late-17th century to the end of the 19th century. The writings focus on a number of themes, reflecting in turn the problems which revenue raisers have encountered over two centuries.

A set of eight volumes, these texts are designed to cover the literature of taxation from the late-17th century to the end of the 19th century. The writings focus on a number of themes, reflecting in turn the problems which revenue raisers have encountered over two centuries.

A set of eight volumes, these texts are designed to cover the literature of taxation from the late-17th century to the end of the 19th century. The writings focus on a number of themes, reflecting in turn the problems which revenue raisers have encountered over two centuries.

A set of eight volumes, these texts are designed to cover the literature of taxation from the late-17th century to the end of the 19th century. The writings focus on a number of themes, reflecting in turn the problems which revenue raisers have encountered over two centuries.

A set of eight volumes, these texts are designed to cover the literature of taxation from the late-17th century to the end of the 19th century. The writings focus on a number of themes, reflecting in turn the problems which revenue raisers have encountered over two centuries.

A multi-volume work which examines key texts from literature, providing a useful resource for the study of the foundations of monetary economics from writers such as Ricardo, Cantillon and Hume.

A multi-volume work which examines key texts from literature, providing a useful resource for the study of the foundations of monetary economics from writers such as Ricardo, Cantillon and Hume.

A multi-volume work which examines key texts from literature, providing a useful resource for the study of the foundations of monetary economics from writers such as Ricardo, Cantillon and Hume.

A multi-volume work which examines key texts from literature, providing a useful resource for the study of the foundations of monetary economics from writers such as Ricardo, Cantillon and Hume.

A multi-volume work which examines key texts from literature, providing a useful resource for the study of the foundations of monetary economics from writers such as Ricardo, Cantillon and Hume.