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Richard T. Ely: The Confederate Flag of the AEA?

Author

Listed:
  • Clifford F. Thies
  • Ryan Daza

Abstract

During the Progressive Era, a new breed of social reformers advocated policies such as the segregation of lesser people, including entire races of people, to labor colonies in order to advance social evolution. Prominent among these Progressives was Richard T. Ely, a founder of the American Economic Association, recently honored by that organization in its Economists’ Calendar. To put this honor into proper perspective, this article compiles 55 quotations of Richard T. Ely, spanning his entire professional career, on issues such as eugenics, race, and individual rights versus the rights of the state.

Suggested Citation

  • Clifford F. Thies & Ryan Daza, 2011. "Richard T. Ely: The Confederate Flag of the AEA?," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 8(2), pages 147-156, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:ejw:journl:v:8:y:2011:i:2:p:147-156
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomas C. Leonard, 2003. "“More Merciful and Not Less Effective”: Eugenics and American Economics in the Progressive Era," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 35(4), pages 687-712, Winter.
    2. Thomas C. Leonard, 2005. "Mistaking Eugenics for Social Darwinism: Why Eugenics Is Missing from the History of American Economics," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 37(5), pages 200-233, Supplemen.
    3. Bradley W. Bateman, 2003. "Race, Intellectual History, and American Economics: A Prolegomenon to the Past," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 35(4), pages 713-730, Winter.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Richard T. Ely; eugenics; race; immigration; nationalism; colonialism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B15 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary
    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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