Robert Skidelsky Books

Traces the economist's life and work, offering a portrait of his public and private life.

The interplay between politics, economics and ideas from the late 19th century is focused upon in these essays. A series of figures and subjects crucial to an understanding of modern history are included, such as Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Skidelsky is winner of the 1993 Wolfson History Prize.

In this remarkable work, Robert Skidelsky combines his expertise in a sweeping account of money and power. The prevailing economic view suggests that money and government should play a minimal role in economic life, portraying money merely as a medium of exchange and advocating for the 'invisible hand' of the market. However, this book argues that uncertainty makes money and government crucial in any market economy. Money is necessary because the future is unpredictable, and effective government can reduce this uncertainty, thereby diminishing the demand for money. Following Adam Smith, orthodox economics favored non-intervention until the Great Depression of 1929-32 challenged this perspective, leading to the rise of Keynesian economics as a new policy paradigm. Yet, the stagflation of the 1970s prompted a rejection of Keynesian policies in favor of neoclassical orthodoxy. Despite the severe 2008 financial crash, which was addressed with Keynesian measures, the pre-crash orthodoxy was reinstated, continuing to impose austerity measures that have left the global economy weak. This book seeks to introduce readers to the essential elements of Keynes's ideas, arguing that much of economic orthodoxy is not the hard science it claims to be. It aims to inspire the next generation of economists to recognize the vital roles of money and government in the economic landscape.

Ten years in the making, the second volume of Skidelsky's acclaimed biography of Keynes takes up the story of this century's most important economist after the controversial publication of The Economic Consequences of the Peace, and traces his life, his work, and their relationship to world events throu gh the reception of The General Theory in 1937. Photos.

THE DEFINITIVE SINGLE-VOLUME BIOGRAPHYRobert Skidelsky's three-volume biography of John Maynard Keynes has been acclaimed as the authoritative account of the great economist-statesman's life. Here, Skidelsky has revised and abridged his magnum opus into one definitive book, which examines in its entirety the intellectual and ideological journey that led an extraordinarily gifted young man to concern himself with the practical problems of an age overshadowed by war. John Maynard Keynes offers a sympathetic account of the life of a passionate visionary and an invaluable insight into the economic philosophy that still remains at the centre of political and economic thought.ROBERT SKIDELSKY is Emeritus Professor of Political Economy at the University of Warwick. His three volume biography of John Maynard Keynes (1983, 1992, 2000) received numerous prizes, including the Lionel Gelber Prize for International Relations and the Council on Foreign Relations Prize for International Relations. ('This three-volume life of the British economist should be given a Nobel Prize for History if there was such a thing' - Norman Stone.) He was made a life peer in 1991, and a Fellow of the British Academy in 1994.'A masterpiece of biographical and historical analysis' - New York Times

"A passionate and informed critique of mainstream economics from one of the leading economic thinkers of our time. This insightful book looks at how mainstream economics' quest for scientific certainty has led to a narrowing of vision and a convergence on an orthodoxy that is unhealthy for the field, not to mention the societies which base policy decisions on the advice of flawed economic models. Noted economic thinker Robert Skidelsky explains the circumstances that have brought about this constriction and proposes an approach to economics which includes philosophy, history, sociology, and politics. Skidelsky's clearly written and compelling critique takes aim at the way that economics is taught in today's universities, where a focus on modelling leaves students ill-equipped to grapple with what is important and true about human life. He argues for a return to the ideal set out by John Maynard Keynes that the economist must be a "mathematician, historian, statesman, [and] philosopher" in equal measure."--Provided by publisher.

When unbridled capitalism falters, is there an alternative? This title shows how the great economist's ideas not only explain why the current financial crisis occurred - but are our best way out.

In 1930 the great economist Keynes predicted that, over the next century, income would rise steadily, people's basic needs would be met and no one would have to work more than fifteen hours a week. Why was he wrong?Robert and Edward Skidelsky argue that wealth is not - or should not be - an end in itself, but a means to 'the good life'. Tracing the concept from Aristotle to the present, they show how far modern life has strayed from that ideal. They reject the idea that there is any single measure of human progress, whether GDP or 'happiness', and instead describe the seven elements which, they argue, make up the good life, and the policies that could realize them.ROBERT SKIDELSKY is Emeritus Professor of Political Economy at the University of Warwick. His biography of Keynes received numerous prizes, including the Lionel Gelber Prize and the Council on Foreign Relations Prize for International Relations. He was made a life peer in 1991, and a Fellow of the British Academy in 1994.EDWARD SKIDELSKY is a lecturer in the Philosophy Department of the University of Exeter. He contributes regularly to the New Statesman, Spectator and Prospect. His previous books include The Conditions of Goodness and Ernst Cassirer: The Last Philosopher of Culture.

A provocative and timely call for a moral approach to economics, drawing on philosophers, political theorists, writers, and economists from Aristotle to Marx to Keynes. What constitutes the good life? What is the true value of money? Why do we work such long hours merely to acquire greater wealth? These are some of the questions that many asked themselves when the financial system crashed in 2008. This book tackles such questions head-on. The authors begin with the great economist John Maynard Keynes. In 1930 Keynes predicted that, within a century, per capita income would steadily rise, people’s basic needs would be met, and no one would have to work more than fifteen hours a week. Clearly, he was wrong: though income has increased as he envisioned, our wants have seemingly gone unsatisfied, and we continue to work long hours. The Skidelskys explain why Keynes was mistaken. Then, arguing from the premise that economics is a moral science, they trace the concept of the good life from Aristotle to the present and show how our lives over the last half century have strayed from that ideal. Finally, they issue a call to think anew about what really matters in our lives and how to attain it. How Much Is Enough? is that rarity, a work of deep intelligence and ethical commitment accessible to all readers. It will be lauded, debated, cited, and criticized. It will not be ignored.