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Reflections of Eminent Economists
In this collection of autobiographical essays, 26 prominent scholars detail their professional development, while offering insight into their lives and philosophies. With candor and humor they relate how they came to the field of economics, as well as how their views have evolved over the years.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
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In this collection of autobiographical essays, 26 prominent scholars detail their profes sional development, while offering insight into their lives and philosophies. With candor and humor they relate how they came to the field of economics, as well as how their views have evolved over the years.
Highlights of the collection include discussions by: Irma Adelman on how World War II shaped her life; Mark Blaug on how Marxism, involvement with the Communist Party, and McCarthyism influenced his scholarship; Victor Fuchs on economic perspective and its applicability to many disciplines; Allan Meltzer on his development as a researcher; and Julian Simon on his eclectic career and untraditional path to economics.
Examining the essayists’ reflections affords us the opportunity to explore the question of what makes distinctive and exciting scholarship while allowing us to probe the criteria for excellence. These thoughtful essays will be of great value to students of economics and to all those interested in personal recollections of wise and accomplished scholars.
Highlights of the collection include discussions by: Irma Adelman on how World War II shaped her life; Mark Blaug on how Marxism, involvement with the Communist Party, and McCarthyism influenced his scholarship; Victor Fuchs on economic perspective and its applicability to many disciplines; Allan Meltzer on his development as a researcher; and Julian Simon on his eclectic career and untraditional path to economics.
Examining the essayists’ reflections affords us the opportunity to explore the question of what makes distinctive and exciting scholarship while allowing us to probe the criteria for excellence. These thoughtful essays will be of great value to students of economics and to all those interested in personal recollections of wise and accomplished scholars.
Critical Acclaim
‘This book should be called to the attention of every graduate student in economics if for no other reason than the guidance the authors provide on career choice, the socialization of economists, identifying topics worthy of study, and most important, on alternative views on what and how to teach economics.’
– William Becker, Journal of Economic Literature
‘We are indebted to Michael Szenberg’s persuasive powers in eliciting the self-analyses of economists . . . For these insights, the budding economist as well as the historian of thought should be grateful.’
– From the foreword by Kenneth J. Arrow
– William Becker, Journal of Economic Literature
‘We are indebted to Michael Szenberg’s persuasive powers in eliciting the self-analyses of economists . . . For these insights, the budding economist as well as the historian of thought should be grateful.’
– From the foreword by Kenneth J. Arrow
Contributors
Contributors: I. Adelman, B. Balassa, C.S. Bell, B.R. Bergmann, M. Blaug, M. Bronfenbrenner, G. Chichilnisky, R.A. Easterlin, R.G. Ehrenberg, V.R. Fuchs, R.W. Garrison, E. Ginzberg, A. Gottesman, E.M. Gramlich, E.E. Hagen, G.C. Harcourt, E. Malinvaud, H.M. Markowitz, A.H. Meltzer, G.H. Moore, W.Y. Oi, M. Perlman, L. Ramrattan, K.W. Rothschild, F.M. Scherer, J.L. Simon, M. Szenberg, H. Uzawa, A. Walters
Contents
Contents and Contributors: Foreword by Kenneth J. Arrow Preface Introduction Aron Gottesman, Lall Ramrattan and Michael Szenberg 1. My Life Philosophy Irma Adelman 2. My Life Philosophy Bela Balassa 3. Thinking about Economics Carolyn Shaw Bell 4. Pushing for a More Humane Society Barbara R. Bergmann 5. Not only an Economist – Autobiographical Reflections of a Historian of Economic Thought Mark Blaug 6. Instead of a Philosophy of Life Martin Bronfenbrenner 7. Sex and the Ivy League Graciela Chichilnisky 8. The Story of a Reluctant Economist Richard A. Easterlin 9. My Life and Economics Ronald G. Ehrenberg 10. Education and its Consequences: My Philosophy of Life Victor R. Fuchs 11. A Roundabout Approach to Macroeconomics: Some Autobiographical Reflections Roger W. Garrison 12. My Life Philosophy Eli Ginzberg 13. Reflections of a Policy Economist Edward M. Gramlich 14. My Life Philosophy Everett E. Hagen 15. Political Economy, Politics and Religion: Intertwined and Indissoluble Passions G.C. Harcourt 16. Some Ethical and Methodological Convictions E. Malinvaud 17. Trains of Thought Harry M. Markowitz 18. My Life Philosophy Allan H. Meltzer 19. Following the Indicators Geoffrey H. Moore 20. A View from the Midway Walter Y. Oi 21. What Makes My Mind Tick Mark Perlman 22. To Push and to be Pushed Kurt W. Rothschild 23. An Accidental Schumpeterian F.M. Scherer 24. Philosophy and My Work Life Julian L. Simon 25. Life and Philosophy Hirofumi Uzawa 26. A Life Philosophy Sir Alan Walters