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The theory of employment: two approaches compared

Author

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  • Alessandro Roncaglia

    (Sapienza University of Rome)

Abstract

Introducing the publication of a long 1956 letter by Franco Modigliani (FM) to Paolo Sylos Labini (PSL) on the draft of PSL's book, Oligopoly and Technical Progress, the paper critically reviews the theoretical background of FM's comments, showing how the pre-Keynesian roots dominate the so-called neoclassical synthesis as well as its shaky foundations. The paper also discusses FM's interpretation of PSL's oligopoly theory, as well as their collaboration (and differences) on policy issues, such as their opposition to the 100% money wage indexation adopted in Italy from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Roncaglia, 2014. "The theory of employment: two approaches compared," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 67(270), pages 241-268.
    • Handle: RePEc:psl:pslqrr:2014:31
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    File URL: http://ojs.uniroma1.it/index.php/PSLQuarterlyReview/article/view/12918/12722
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Franco Modigliani & Jean Paul Fitoussi & Beniamino Moro & Denis Snower & Robert Solo & Alfred Steinherr & Paolo Sylos Labini, 1999. "An Economist’s Manifesto on Unemployment in the European Union," Journal of Income Distribution, Ad libros publications inc., vol. 8(2), pages 1-1, December.
    2. Sergio Parrinello, 2014. "A search for distinctive features of demand-led growth models," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 67(270), pages 309-342.
    3. Franco Modigliani, 2014. "A letter to Sylos Labini," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 67(270), pages 283-307.
    4. Paolo Sylos Labini, 2005. "Franco Modigliani and oligopoly," BNL Quarterly Review, Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, vol. 58(233-234), pages 41-48.
    5. Paolo Sylos Labini, 2005. "Franco Modigliani and oligopoly," Banca Nazionale del Lavoro Quarterly Review, Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, vol. 58(233-234), pages 41-48.
    6. Alessandro Roncaglia & Mario Tonveronachi, 1985. "Pre-Keynesian roots of the neoclassical synthesis," Cahiers d'Économie Politique, Programme National Persée, vol. 10(1), pages 51-65.
    7. Joan Robinson, 1953. "The Production Function and the Theory of Capital," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 21(2), pages 81-106.
    8. Paolo Sylos Labini, 2005. "Franco Modigliani e l’oligopolio," Moneta e Credito, Economia civile, vol. 58(230-231), pages 43-50.
    9. Roncaglia,Alessandro, 2006. "The Wealth of Ideas," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521691871.
    10. Franco Modigliani, 1958. "New Developments on the Oligopoly Front," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 66, pages 215-215.
    11. Franco Modigliani & Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, 1977. "La politica economica in una economia con salari indicizzati al 100% piu," Moneta e Credito, Economia civile, vol. 30(117), pages 3-53.
    12. Alessandro Roncaglia, 2009. "Keynes and probability: An assessment," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 489-510.
    13. Rancan, Antonella, 2012. "The Origin of the Sylos Postulate: Modigliani's and Sylos Labini's Contributions to Oligopoly Theory," Economics & Statistics Discussion Papers esdp12070, University of Molise, Department of Economics.
    14. Alessandro Roncaglia, 2014. "Should the History of Economic Thought be Included in Undergraduate Curricula?," Economic Thought, World Economics Association, vol. 3(1), pages 1-1, March.
    15. Alessandro Roncaglia, 2012. "Keynesian uncertainty and the shaky foundations of statistical risk assessment models," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 65(263), pages 437-454.
    16. George J. Stigler, 1947. "The Kinky Oligopoly Demand Curve and Rigid Prices," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 55, pages 432-432.
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    Cited by:

    1. Carlo D'Ippoliti, 2015. "Editorial: Paolo Sylos Labini (1920-2005)," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 68(274), pages 179-185.
    2. Giulio Guarini, 2016. "Macroeconomic and Technological Dynamics: a Structuralist-Keynesian Cumulative Growth Model," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 69(276), pages 49-75.
    3. Mario Tonveronachi, 2015. "Making the ECB the central bank of a non-federal coalition of states," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 68(273), pages 91-114.
    4. Anna Maria Rita La Bruna, 2017. "La lezione siciliana di Paolo Sylos Labini, 1958-1960 (Paolo Sylos Labini’s Sicilian Lesson, 1958-1960)," Moneta e Credito, Economia civile, vol. 70(278), pages 131-151.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Macroeconomic theory; Oligopoly; Neoclassical synthesis; Modigliani; Sylos Labini;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • E13 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Neoclassical
    • E64 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Incomes Policy; Price Policy

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