An Outline of the History of Economic Thought - Hardcover

Review from previous edition The scope of this book is vast...The strength of the book is that it provides a clear, non-technical account of some of the most important recent developments in economic theory, which many readers will find informative...Though many conclusions reached by Screpanti and Zamagni are controversial, the book makes a stimulating read and provides a useful addition to the literature on this subject. (Times Higher Educational Supplement, October 1993)

Screpanti and Zamagni develop a thorough, informative and interesting narrative of the history of economic theory. (Choice, November 1993)

This book provides a comprehensive and analytical overview of the development of economic theory from its beginnings, at the end of the Middle Ages, up to contemporary contributions. Traditional theories are presented as living matter, and modern theories are presented as part of a historical process and not as established truths. In this way, the book avoids the dangerous dichotomy between pure historians of thought who dedicate themselves exclusively to studying facts, and pure theorists who are interested in the evolution of the logical structure of theories.

The second edition contains several changes and additions. The authors give due consideration to the "civil economy" perspective developed during Humanism and the Renaissance. The section on Adam Smith has been considerably extended and improved. The treatment of the post-keynesian approach has been separated from "new keynesian macroeconomics". Finally, a new chapter has been added to review the most recent developments in the economic discourse in the light of globalization and the new technological trajectory.