G.C. Harcourt has been an instrumental figure in the analysis, synthesis and teaching of economic theory. Erudite, authoritative and insightful, Dr Harcourt's writings have included analysis of contemporary economic theory, synthesis of current debates, intellectual biography and masterly discussion of economic and allied social policies.Capitalism, Socialism and Post-Keynesianism begins with three essays on policy issues: the case for a middle way between command economies and free market economies; the broad principles of macroeconomic policy for Australia in the 1990s; and an integrated set of 'modest proposals' to get the world economy on the path to prosperity. All approaches used in these essays are associated with the broad church of post-Keynesianism and the belief that economics should produce a more just and equitable society. Later essays analyse theoretical topics in an historical context. The remaining papers are a selection of intellectual biographies, and general essays which range from the author's views on the relationship between mathematics and economics to what Adam Smith really did say.
As this volume demonstrates, Dr Harcourt is an all-rounder, a political economist who has written on applied issues, theory, policy, intellectual biography and analytical histories of economic theory. Capitalism, Socialism and Post-Keynesianism offers economists at all levels a sense of perspective on policy, theory and the historical development of their discipline, as well as an appreciation of its human face.
