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Hayek-Myrdal Interactions in the Early 1930s: New Facts Change an Old Story

Author

Listed:
  • Jonung, Lars

    (Department of Economics, Lund University)

  • Laidler, David

    (Department of Economics, University of Western Ontario)

Abstract

It is widely believed that Friedrich von Hayek’s first encounter with Gunnar Myrdal involved the latter’s last-minute contribution, as a replacement for Erik Lindahl, to a Sammelband edited by the former in 1933, and that Hayek was lukewarm towards Myrdal and his ideas from the very beginning. Correspondence between the two shows that, in fact Myrdal was among Hayek’s original invitees, and that their relationship was co-operative and cordial for two years prior to the publication of this collection. We suggest that the content, and perhaps even more, the tone of Myrdal’s paper, originally intended for the Journal of Political Economy, alienated Hayek, who nevertheless treated Myrdal’s work with academic propriety thereafter. The origin of Myrdal’s famous ex post – ex ante terminology is also revealed.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonung, Lars & Laidler, David, 2025. "Hayek-Myrdal Interactions in the Early 1930s: New Facts Change an Old Story," Working Papers 2025:1, Lund University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:lunewp:2025_001
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gunnar Myrdal, 1951. "The Trend Towards Economic Planning1," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 19(1), pages 1-42, January.
    2. Gerhard Mackenroth, 1930. "Period of Production, Durability, and the Rate of Interest in the Economic Equilibrium," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 38(6), pages 629-629.
    3. Lord Robbins, 1971. "Autobiography of an Economist," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-01164-3.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Hayek; Myrdal; Stockholm School; ex ante – ex post;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B20 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - General
    • B30 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - General
    • E10 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - General
    • E20 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • E30 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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