My Work as a Historian of Economic Thought

My work as a historian of economic thought and methodologist has had several dimensions. One comprises a heavy research program. Another involves some major editing projects, several long term. Still another involves a synergistic relationship between my work on the history of economic thought and methodology and on the economic role of government. Another involves my participation in the founding and operation of both History of Political Economy and the History of Economics Society. If all this sounds like a lot of activity, it must be understood that my research and professional activities have been both my vocation and principal avocation. I use the word “work†in the title reluctantly and where others might say “career.†I have never thought of my professional activities as either toil or a career; indeed, I have both engaged in and seen them as a joyful adventure—so much for the theory of the marginal disutility of labor! Especially important has been the continued support of my wife, Sylvia. She has not only understood and supported, albeit sometimes with difficulty, my time-consuming involvement with intellectual work, she has nurtured a wonderful family life.