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A Brief Introduction to Post Keynesian Macroeconomics

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  • J. E. King

Abstract

I begin by setting out the core of Post Keynesian macroeconomics, and then distinguish three schools within Post Keynesian theory: the fundamentalist Keynesian approach taken by Paul Davidson, the Kaleckian variant represented by Eckhard Hein, and Hyman Minsky’s financial instability hypothesis. I continue by identifying what Post Keynesian macroeconomics is not, and outlining some very substantial criticisms of both "Old Keynesian" and "New Keynesian" theory. After an historical sketch of the development of Post Keynesian theory in Cambridge (UK) and the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, I summarise the contributions of two eminent Austrian theorists, Josef Steindl and Kurt Rothschild. I then discuss the distinctive Post Keynesian position on questions of macroeconomic policy, offer an explanation of the Global Financial Crisis that began in 2007 and suggest some policy measures that might make similar crises less likely in the future. I conclude by discussing the relationship between Post Keynesianism and three other schools of heterodox economic theory: Marxism, institutionalism and behavioural economics.

Suggested Citation

  • J. E. King, 2013. "A Brief Introduction to Post Keynesian Macroeconomics," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 39(4), pages 485-508.
    • Handle: RePEc:clr:wugarc:y:2013v:39i:4p:485
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henry C. Wallich & Sidney Weintraub, 1971. "A Tax-Based Incomes Policy," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(2), pages 1-19, June.
    2. J.E. King, 2011. "Four Theses on the Global Financial Crisis," Chapters, in: Steven Kates (ed.), The Global Financial Crisis, chapter 7, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. George A. Akerlof, 2009. "How Human Psychology Drives the Economy and Why It Matters," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1175-1175.
    4. Eckhard Hein, 2012. "The Macroeconomics of Finance-Dominated Capitalism – and its Crisis," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 14931, March.
    5. Paul Davidson, 1978. "Money and the Real World," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, edition 0, number 978-1-349-15865-2, December.
    6. Leanne Ussher, 2009. "Global Imbalances and the Key Currency Regime: The Case for a Commodity Reserve Currency," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 403-421.
    7. Paul De Grauwe, 2012. "Lectures on Behavioral Macroeconomics," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 9891.
    8. Jakob Kapeller & Bernhard Schütz, 2014. "Debt, boom, bust: a theory of Minsky-Veblen cycles," Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(4), pages 781-814.
    9. Robinson, Joan, 1972. "The Second Crisis of Economic Theory," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 62(2), pages 1-10, May.
    10. Eichner, Alfred S & Kregel, J A, 1975. "An Essay on Post-Keynesian Theory: A New Paradigm in Economics," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 13(4), pages 1293-1314, December.
    11. J. E. King, 2012. "The Microfoundations Delusion," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 14065, March.
    12. J.E. King, 2010. "Reflections on the Global Financial Crisis," Chapters, in: Steven Kates (ed.), Macroeconomic Theory and its Failings, chapter 9, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Heider Felix, 2020. "Die postkeynesianische Ökonomik in der Finanzethik des katholischen Sozialethikers Bernhard Emunds – Diskussion aus einer angebotsorientierten Perspektive," Journal for Markets and Ethics, Sciendo, vol. 8(2), pages 1-24, December.
    2. Bruno Damásio & Diogo Martins, 2017. "Do Labour Market Reforms Pay Off? Unemployment and Capital Accumulation in Portugal," Working Papers Department of Economics 2017/01, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.
    3. repec:clr:wugarc:y:2016v:42i:03p:405 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. António Afonso & André Albuquerque, 2018. "Sovereign Credit Rating Mismatches," Notas Económicas, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, issue 46, pages 49-70, July.
    5. Vladimir Mihajlović & Gordana Marjanović, 2019. "Post-Kejnzijanska Kritika Novog Konsenzusa U Makroekonomiji I Pouke Za Tranzicione Privrede (Post-Keynesian Criticism Of The New Consensus Macroeconomics And Lessons For Transitional Economies)," Ekonomske ideje i praksa, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, issue 34, pages 21-32, September.
    6. Ewald Walterskirchen, 2016. "Neukeynesianismus und Postkeynesianismus: Was für ein Unterschied!," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 42(3), pages 405-430.

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