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Caryle, Malthus and Sismondi: The Origins of Carlyle’s Dismal View of Political Economy

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  • Robert Dixon

Abstract

While it is correct to say that Carlyle first applied the exact phrase “dismal science” to political economy in his 1849 article on plantation labour in the West Indies, I argue that Carlyle came to the view that political economy was “dismal” well before that time. Indeed, his negative attitude can be seen quite clearly in his earlier published reactions to the writings of Malthus (and Sismondi, amongst others) on population growth and its consequences and also to the perceived ‘materialistic’ nature of the subject matter of political economy.

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  • Robert Dixon, 2006. "Caryle, Malthus and Sismondi: The Origins of Carlyle’s Dismal View of Political Economy," Department of Economics - Working Papers Series 965, The University of Melbourne.
    • Handle: RePEc:mlb:wpaper:965
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dixon, R., 1999. "The Origin of the Term "Dismal Science" to Describe Economics," Department of Economics - Working Papers Series 715, The University of Melbourne.
    2. Persky, Joseph, 1990. "A Dismal Romantic," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 4(4), pages 165-172, Fall.
    3. Winch,Donald, 1996. "Riches and Poverty," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521559201.
    4. Levy, David M., 2001. "How the Dismal Science Got its Name: Debating Racial Quackery," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(1), pages 5-35, March.
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