hey folks.

so I'm looking for some books that explain economics theory, but from a Keynesian or progressive point of view. it should be pretty recent, and accessible to somebody without a background in the field. I'm a fiscal conservative, but for competitive reasons I'd like to familiarize myself with the other side of the argument.

What can you guys recommend?

*im looking at you moltke, jibba, kwark*

thanks dudes.

economist_

Vietnam719 Posts

August 21 2008 07:55 GMT

Nah, try googling already, or wiki it? have no clue about fiscal stuff though. I am labor economist

BottleAbuser

Korea (South)1888 Posts

August 21 2008 08:20 GMT

The economist has spoken. GG.

Jibba

United States22883 Posts

August 21 2008 14:16 GMT

http://www.amazon.com/End-Laissez-Faire-Economic-Consequences-Peace/dp/1591022681/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219327362&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/General-Theory-Employment-Interest-Money/dp/1573921394/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219327362&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Economic-Consequences-Peace-Maynard-Keynes/dp/1426489099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219327781&sr=1-1

It's hard to find good economics books that aren't $100+ text books. The only normal books that are usually published are lay man's explanations of general economics. The nice thing about Keynes is that he's actually a good writer, unlike Smith. The big one (The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money) is mostly analytical and not heavy with numbers.

I haven't read this one but it sounds good.

http://www.amazon.com/Keyness-General-Accumulation-Cambridge-Economics/dp/0521368154/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219327781&sr=1-9

Honestly, I'd just go through a read all the big names' work. Keynes, Friedman, Hayek, etc. Between monetary and Keynesian economics, I don't think there's a true right answer. It's a bit funny to read all the extremely negative reviews on Amazon by Austrians (aka libertarians) who don't want their money touched. They claim Keynes has destroyed the world.

KrAzYfoOL

Australia3037 Posts

August 21 2008 14:31 GMT

IN THE LONG RUN WE'RE ALL DEAD!!

oneofthem

Cayman Islands24199 Posts

August 21 2008 14:43 GMT

mises.org is an endless source of lulz, that much makes it valuable.

calling oneself a fiscal conservative makes you seem like you've learned your economics on internet forums.

nA.Inky

United States794 Posts

August 21 2008 14:58 GMT

Check out A Brief History of Economics, by E. Ray Canterbery. You might also try some of J.K. Galbraith books. The only one of his that I read was The Culture of Contentment, and it was plenty accessible.

Also look into writings by Richard Easterlin, Alan Durning, and Juliet Schor. All of these are less Keynesian, to my knowledge, but very "progressive."

triangle

United States3803 Posts

August 21 2008 15:16 GMT

If you just want a really basic introduction, I recommend Naked Economics by Charles Wheelan

nA.Inky

United States794 Posts

August 21 2008 15:46 GMT

Also, since you want a progressive or alternative perspective, you definitely ought to read Marx, particularly Das Kapital. He had a very large impact on economics. More recently, but still 100 years old, is the Theory of the Leisure Class by Thorstein Veblen, which is a very radical look at economics - so radical that it is not even studied in economics, but is rather regarded as a sociological work. But Veblen was a well respected economist and intended his work to be in the field of economics.

economist_

Vietnam719 Posts

August 21 2008 16:12 GMT

#10

Marx 's is not good for economist its for political use but yeah his is very progressive

JWD

United States12607 Posts

August 21 2008 16:35 GMT

#11

On August 21 2008 17:20 BottleAbuser wrote:
The economist has spoken. GG.

You won't find any Keynesian thought in the Economist. Actually, to the OP, you're probably kind of out of luck if you're looking for contemporary Keynesian literature.

Then again...you can still find textbooks on Creationism, so what the hell am I talking about.

Jibba

United States22883 Posts

August 21 2008 17:18 GMT

#12

Friedman is certainly the more widely accepted of the two, but neither side will really die out as no one is ever completely right or completely wrong and there's plenty of examples of Keynesian thinking at work in Europe.

nA.Inky

United States794 Posts

August 21 2008 17:25 GMT

#13

As I understand it, there is plenty of Keynesian thinking at work in the US, seen in particular through huge military expenditures, but also through social spending.

EmeraldSparks

United States1451 Posts

August 21 2008 17:34 GMT

#14

You should start by studying the classical economists: Adam Smith, Ricardo, etc. Then study the Marxist critique: Communist Manifesto, Das Kapital, etc. Then study the Keynsian and liberal 'solutions' to the problems of capitalism: John Maynard Keynes, Galbraith, etc. Then study the neo-classical and neo-liberal critique of liberalism and Marxism: Friedman, Hayek, etc. There is a kind of over-arching historical narrative to it all, though it's not completely linear...

ahrara_

Afghanistan1715 Posts

August 21 2008 19:01 GMT

#15

actually I was looking for just "laymen's explanations". i actually ordered naked economics on an amazon search last night. it has more of a moderate perspective than the books i've read so far (hazlitt's economics in one lesson, sowell's basic economics).

oneofthem: huh? and where did you learn your economics?

Jibba

United States22883 Posts

August 21 2008 19:50 GMT

#16

On August 22 2008 02:34 EmeraldSparks wrote:

Show nested quote +

That's actually a really great suggestion when you get more used to everything. History is like the backbone for every other subject out there, and it really doesn't take much more than a Wikipedia entry to start to understand the context of some of these things.

rushz0rz

Canada5300 Posts

February 06 2009 07:21 GMT

#17

Sorry to bump, I'd rather just post in an already made topic than create my own.

Can anyone also recommend books from the laissez-faire point of view too. I read Naked Economics and am reading another sort-of introductory book as well, so I'd like to get a bit more in depth after it.