New Ideas from Dead Economists
I have just finished reading the book “New Ideas From Dead Economists” by Todd G. Buchholz. I enjoyed the book even though I don’t think the idea was that apt.
In my opinion, I think most people will enjoy the book. It is not a difficult book to read, and you don’t need any prior knowledge of the economists inside or their theories to comprehend the book. Some of the people covered include Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, Alfred Marshall, John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman and Robert Lucas.
The writer does a good job of presenting a short biography on the different economists, as well as explains using simple terms the theories and the ideas they had. Even though they were all vastly different (be it character, ideas or behavior), there is an underlying similarity among them – that is to attempt to understand the world around them. And the writer does a great job of bringing you into their worlds and helping you understand what shaped their thinking. The good thing is, he brings us back to our current world and presents to us the relevance that the dead economists have to our world.
Hmm, but I don’t think the title is that appropriate. This is because the writer doesn’t really show new ideas from the past economists; in fact, he is more of applying to today’s context. For example, we all know about David Ricardo’s idea of having free trade and his theory of comparative advantage. His ideas are clearly reflected with the formation of GATT and then the WTO, and the advocation of free trade now. Of course, we do see some protectionist measures by some nations, and hence we see the loss to humanity because of those actions.
I think I shall not elaborate too much into what the book brings us through, cause if I do that, then I don’t think you will read the book. But the author does offer an interesting view at the end of the book – that is Economics is still developing with mankind, and there are still infinite areas for us to study. To be true, there is indeed no end to Economics.
So yup, I strongly encourage you all to read the book. You will really gain a better understanding of our world and society, and you will surely not think that Economics is a ‘dismal science’.
In my opinion, I think most people will enjoy the book. It is not a difficult book to read, and you don’t need any prior knowledge of the economists inside or their theories to comprehend the book. Some of the people covered include Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, Alfred Marshall, John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman and Robert Lucas.
The writer does a good job of presenting a short biography on the different economists, as well as explains using simple terms the theories and the ideas they had. Even though they were all vastly different (be it character, ideas or behavior), there is an underlying similarity among them – that is to attempt to understand the world around them. And the writer does a great job of bringing you into their worlds and helping you understand what shaped their thinking. The good thing is, he brings us back to our current world and presents to us the relevance that the dead economists have to our world.
Hmm, but I don’t think the title is that appropriate. This is because the writer doesn’t really show new ideas from the past economists; in fact, he is more of applying to today’s context. For example, we all know about David Ricardo’s idea of having free trade and his theory of comparative advantage. His ideas are clearly reflected with the formation of GATT and then the WTO, and the advocation of free trade now. Of course, we do see some protectionist measures by some nations, and hence we see the loss to humanity because of those actions.
I think I shall not elaborate too much into what the book brings us through, cause if I do that, then I don’t think you will read the book. But the author does offer an interesting view at the end of the book – that is Economics is still developing with mankind, and there are still infinite areas for us to study. To be true, there is indeed no end to Economics.
So yup, I strongly encourage you all to read the book. You will really gain a better understanding of our world and society, and you will surely not think that Economics is a ‘dismal science’.
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