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Economic History or History of Economics? A Review Essay on Sylvia Nasar's Grand Pursuit: the Story of Economic Genius

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  • Orley Ashenfelter

    (Princeton University)

Abstract

In this essay I review Sylvia Nasar's long awaited new history of economics, Grand Pursuit. I describe how the book is an economic history of the period from 1850-1950, with distinguished economists' stories inserted in appropriate places. Nasar's goal is to show how economists work, but also to show that they are people too--with more than enough warts and foibles to show they are human! I contrast the general view of the role of economics in Grand Pursuit with Robert Heilbroner?s remarkably different conception in The Worldly Philosophers. I also discuss more generally the question of why economists might be interested in their history at all.

Suggested Citation

  • Orley Ashenfelter, 2012. "Economic History or History of Economics? A Review Essay on Sylvia Nasar's Grand Pursuit: the Story of Economic Genius," Working Papers 1367, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    • Handle: RePEc:pri:indrel:568
    as

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    File URL: https://dataspace.princeton.edu/bitstream/88435/dsp01j9602063p/3/GrandPursuit%20Review--Nov-28th%202011--final.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ted Gayer, 2002. "Graduate Studies in the History of Economic Thought," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 34(5), pages 35-61, Supplemen.
    2. Paul A. Samuelson, 1983. "1983: Marx, Keynes, and Schumpeter," Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 9(3), pages 166-179, Jul-Sep.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. A. Maltsev., 2015. "History of Economic Thought, Quo vadis?," VOPROSY ECONOMIKI, N.P. Redaktsiya zhurnala "Voprosy Economiki", vol. 3.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic history; book review; Nassar; Keynes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B10 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - General
    • B20 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - General

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