The Evolution of Economics

Name: The Evolution of Economics
ISBN: 9787502851934

Joseph Alois Schumpeter / 刘霈 / 魏媛Seismological Press · ChinaJun 2022

Rating 3.7

Word count: 135K words
Chapters: 53
ISBN: 9787502851934

Summary

This book collects more than ten classic review essays Schumpeter wrote for various economics journals between 1910 and 1950. In these essays, Schumpeter reviews the leading figures of several schools of economic thought that shaped world economics, from Walras and Menger to Marshall, Pareto, Böhm-Bawerk, and Taussig, and on to Fisher, Mitchell, and Keynes, offering detailed exposition and assessment of their economic doctrines. The book traces an almost complete roadmap of the development of economics in the twentieth century and reflects the process by which economics became a prominent discipline.

Editor's review

The Evolution of Economics is not a standalone work by Schumpeter himself, but a collection of essays selected by an editor on economic methodology, the history of thought, and theoretical evolution. Its core value lies in offering a unique perspective on how this giant of economics, famous for 'innovation theory' and 'creative destruction,' viewed the development of economics as a discipline. With deep erudition and keen insight, Schumpeter analyzes the logic of economics' evolution from classical to neoclassical, and explores the complex relationship between theory building, model application, and historical reality. He especially emphasizes combining the historical dimension with theoretical tools in economic analysis—an idea still illuminating for understanding today's complex economic phenomena. Readers will not only trace key milestones in economic doctrine but also learn a profound and dynamic way of thinking: how economics itself, as an evolving body of knowledge, renews itself by responding to real-world challenges. For readers who wish to go beyond textbook conclusions and understand the texture of economic thought, this is a precious opportunity for deep dialogue with a master's mind.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Advanced learners with a strong interest in the history of economic thought and its development
Researchers or students seeking a full picture of Schumpeter's thought, especially his methodology and historical perspective
Readers dissatisfied with mainstream model derivation who wish to reflect on the nature of economics from historical and philosophical perspectives
Professionals in innovation, business cycle, or economic development research who wish to trace theoretical origins

Not a good fit for

Introductory readers seeking a systematic study of Schumpeter's 'innovation theory' or 'capitalist development'
Beginners expecting a standard, structured textbook knowledge system of economics

Reading tips

It is advisable to first gain a basic understanding of Schumpeter's major works (such as The Theory of Economic Development and Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy) and of classical to neoclassical economics, so as to better grasp the context of the discussions.
The essays are highly independent and can be read selectively according to interest, but following the main thread of Schumpeter's arguments on methodology and the evolution of economic analysis will yield a more coherent understanding.
Readers should consult materials on the history of economic thought, compare Schumpeter's views with those of other schools, and appreciate his distinctive historical-theoretical perspective.

About the publisher

Seismological Press China · Founded in 1976

Founded in 1976, Seismological Press takes its name from its specialized field. It mainly publishes monographs, translations and textbooks on seismological research and prediction, as well as technical and popular-science works on earthquake engineering and disaster prevention and reduction. Judging from the 48 titles in the database, its list also extends to popular science, foreign literature, economics and management, inspirational growth and fantasy fiction. Representative books include The Evolution of Physics: From Early Concepts to Relativity and Quanta, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, Bastiat’s Economics, World Economic History, Adam Smith’s Economics, What Is Science, Harvard Humanistic Management and the six-volume Mercenary World. Its authors include Albert Einstein, Leopold Infeld, Carson McCullers, Frédéric Bastiat and Max Weber. As public information is limited, its overall publishing profile is mainly reflected in the titles held in the database.

版权信息
序言
第一章马利·爱斯普利·里昂·瓦尔拉斯
第二章卡尔·门格尔
第三章艾尔弗雷德·马歇尔
一
二
三
四
五
第四章维弗雷多·帕累托
一、生平
二、理论家
三、社会学家
第五章欧根·冯·庞巴维克
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
第六章弗兰克·威廉·陶西格
一、早年（1859—1880年）
二、事业上升期（1881—1900年）
三、中年（1901—1919年）
四、元老（1920—1940年））
第七章欧文·费雪
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
第八章韦斯利·克莱尔·米切尔
一
二
三
四
第九章约翰·梅纳德·凯恩斯
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
附录
附录A 乔治·弗雷德里克·克纳普（1842—1926）
附录B 弗雷德里克·方·维塞尔（1851—1926）
附录C 拉地斯劳斯·方·鲍尔特凯维兹（1868—1931）

FAQ

Is this a systematic monograph written by Schumpeter?

No. This book is a collection compiled by an editor from Schumpeter's articles, lectures, and book reviews from different periods on economic methodology, the history of doctrine, and related topics, aiming to present his thinking on the development of economics as a discipline.

Does reading this book require a strong foundation in economics?

It requires some economic training and knowledge. The book discusses numerous schools, figures, and theoretical concepts, and is suitable for readers who have studied intermediate micro- and macroeconomics and have some preliminary knowledge of the history of economic thought. Complete beginners may find it difficult.

What is the relationship between this book and Schumpeter's famous 'innovation theory'?

The book focuses mainly on the 'evolution' of economics as a discipline rather than elaborating on innovation theory specifically. However, it provides important background for understanding the methodology and historical perspective on which Schumpeter built his theoretical system, helping readers grasp his overall intellectual framework more deeply.

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About the author

Joseph Alois Schumpeter Author · Austrian (later American) · 1883–1950

Joseph Alois Schumpeter (1883–1950) was an Austrian-American economist known for his theory of innovation and the concept of "creative destruction," and is regarded as the pioneer of innovation theory. Born in Moravia, he served as Austria's finance minister and moved to the United States in 1932, where he became a professor at Harvard University. His work spanned economic development, the capitalist system, socialism, and the history of economic thought. His major works include The Theory of Economic Development, Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, History of Economic Analysis, and a collection of essays on ten great economists from Marx to Keynes. Combining theoretical construction with historical perspective, his writing examines the role of entrepreneurs and market dynamics within long-term narratives of institutional change, and has had a profound influence on the development of modern economics.

刘霈 Author

Liu Pei is an author with limited publicly available information. Six of his works are currently known, spanning fields such as finance, applied psychology, management, and inspirational personal growth. His representative titles include The Fable of the Bees, Motivation and Personality, What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen, The Complete Works of Schumpeter's Economics, Harvard Humanistic Management, and The Evolution of Economics. These titles suggest an interest in economic thought and management ideas as well as psychological topics such as individual motivation and personality. Since his dates of birth and death, nationality, and educational background are not reliably documented, his personal history cannot be reconstructed; based on the available titles, his writing appears oriented toward knowledge popularization and the introduction of ideas, presenting classic theories, economic concepts, and management methods to readers in an accessible manner.

魏媛 Author

Wei Yuan is an author whose writing focuses on the field of finance and economics. Two of her works are currently included in the collection: The Evolution of Economics and A Brief History of World Finance. Because public information is limited, her nationality, dates of birth and death, educational background and professional experience cannot be confirmed, and no reliable record of an English name is available. Judging from the existing works, her subjects center on the history of economic thought and the course of financial history. She tends to trace the development of the discipline and of markets through historical narrative, placing specialized economic and financial topics along a chronological thread so that general readers can follow how they came about. This choice of subject reflects a sustained interest in the history of economic ideas and the development of global finance. Both works fall under the finance and economics category and lean toward accessible general exposition rather than dense theoretical argument, making them suitable for readers who wish to gain a systematic grounding in the basic outlines of economics and financial history.