How to think like an economist, by Robbie Mochrie

 

With How to Think Like an Economist, economics professor Robbie Mochrie provides a historical overview of the development of economic theory from classical times to the present. Profiling twenty-four scholars and thinkers, Mochrie demonstrates how economic theory evolved from the time of Aristotle, when musings about economics arose from philosophy and focused primarily on individual behavior and household management, to the Enlightenment period with the publication of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, and beyond. Mochrie brings the narrative to the present day, sketching the careers and notable achievements of prominent economists, mostly men but including a few women, many of whom were the recipients of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. He notes their impact on government thinking and action addressing phenomena such as the Great Depression, unemployment, inflation, poverty, and policy. Mochrie shows how the study of economics developed from different traditions including history, law, and engineering, all bringing a distinctive stamp to their respective theoretical approaches. His clear writing and chronological approach show how economic theory grew and changed as each scholar built upon the record of previous thinkers. VERDICT This is a deeply researched and lively introduction to the history and theory of economics.

 

A version of this review was published by Library Journal 149:7 (2024): 96.