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The Big Three in Economics

Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and John Maynard Keynes

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The Big Three in Economics

By: Mark Skousen
Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach
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Summary

 The Big Three in Economics reveals the battle of ideas among the three most influential economists in world history: Adam Smith, representing laissez faire; Karl Marx, reflecting the radical socialist model; and John Maynard Keynes, symbolizing big government and the welfare state. History comes alive in this fascinating story of opposing views that continue to play a fundamental role in today's politics and economics.

In the 21st century, Adam Smith's "invisible hand" model has gained the upper hand, and capitalism has ultimately won the ideological battle over socialism and interventionism. But even in the era of globalization and privatization, Keynesian and Marxist ideas continue to play a significant role in economic policy in the public and private sectors.

©2007 Mark Skousen (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc. Economic History Economics Professionals & Academics Social Scientists & Psychologists Capitalism Government Taxation Socialism Economic disparity Economic Inequality Liberalism Marxism Soviet Union US Economy Deficit Economic Policy Banking Deflation Tariff Latin American
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Critic reviews

"Thoughtful, acutely observed and profoundly moving....Barker mixes brilliantly observed contemporary realism and mystical overtones with dazzling skill. The book has the grip of a superior thriller while introducing, with no sense of strain, a sense of sorrowful mortality that lingers long after the last page." (Publishers Weekly)
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Narration was good. Great all round introduction to economics. Highly recommend. A great book if you want to understand economic basics and principles or a fantastic starter for further study.

interesting read

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I appreciated the detailed history of some of the key economic thinkers over the past 3 centuries. But the author very clearly has a preferred ideological position, and in the orthodox tradition, dresses this ideology up as scientific reality.

Mostly very competent history of economic thought stretching back to Adam Smith but clear ideological bias

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This title includes short biographies of each of the three economists Smith, Marx and Keynes, together with a discussion of the main points of their work and critique of their ideas. It also goes into useful detail about their successors and their historical impact.

Serves as a reasonable introduction to the history of economics for the general reader. There is bias introduced by the author's particular perspective. For example, he devotes a surprising amount of space to a discussion of whether or not Adam Smith was a practicing Christian. The description of Karl Marx is splendidly bitchy: a man described more than once as 'demonic'. He is villified, for example, because his children died in poverty. However, much of the discussion of Marx' work is reasonably unbiased and can be useful. It is obviously a matter of great dismay to the author that John Maynard Keynes described himself as an 'immoralist' and was openly homosexual for part of his life.

A reasonably good read, less impartial than I would have liked, but presents the main economic ideas in an accessible manner.

Acceptable but rather partisan coverage

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it is performed in the best manner possible. the book itself is good for acquiring general knowledge. it helps to have a somehow clearer understanding of economics in general but there are not too many details .

good for general knowledge

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Anti Keynes bias was painful in the later chapters. Examples were selective. Then I suppose by definition they are.

Informative overall

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