Poverty in the History of Economic Thought : From Mercantilism to Neoclassical Economics

__Poverty in the History of Economic Thought: From Mercantilism to Neoclassical Economics__ aims to describe and critically examine how economic thought deals with poverty and the poor, including its causes, consequences, reduction, and abolition. This edited volume traces the economic ideas of key writers and schools of thought across a significant period, ranging from Adam Smith and Malthus through to Wicksell, Cassel, and Heckscher. The chapters relate poverty to income distribution, asserting that poverty is not always conceived of in absolute terms, and that relative and social deprivation matter also. Furthermore, the contributors deal with both individual poverty and the poverty of nations in the context of international economy. By providing such a thorough exploration, this book shows that the approach to poverty differs from economist to economist, depending on their particular interests and the main issues related to poverty in each epoch, as well as the influence of the intellectual climate that prevailed at the time when the contribution was made. This key text is valuable reading for advanced students and researchers of the history of economic thought, economic development, and the economics of poverty. "Poverty in the History of Economic Thought: From Mercantilism to Neoclassical Economics aims to describe and critically examine how economic thought deals with poverty and the poor, including its causes, consequences, reduction, and abolition. This edited volume traces the economic ideas of key writers and schools of thought across a significant period, ranging from Adam Smith and Malthus, through to Wicksell, Cassel, and Heckscher. The chapters relate poverty to income distribution, asserting the point that poverty is not always conceived of in absolute terms but that relative and social deprivation matters also. Furthermore, the contributors deal with both individual poverty and the poverty of nations in the context of international economy. In providing such a thorough exploration, this book shows that the approach to poverty differs from economist to economist depending on their particular interests and the main issues related to poverty in each epoch, as well as the influence of the intellectual climate that prevailed at the time when the contribution was made. This key text is valuable reading for advanced students and researchers of the history of economic thought, economic development, and the economics of poverty"-- Provided by publisher This book aims to describe and critically examine how economic thought deals with poverty and the poor, including its causes, consequences, reduction, and abolition. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 Notes on Contributors 10 Preface 13 Introduction: Economic thought and Poverty 14 1 Were Good Times Really that Bad? Mercantilist Views on Poverty and Employment 25 2 Adam Smith—A Champion for the Poor! 42 3 Malthus and the Poor 57 4 David Ricardo on Poverty 69 5 Saving the Poor: John Stuart Mill on Poverty and the Poor 89 6 Marx and His Followers on Poverty 102 7 Alfred Marshall, Poverty and Economic Theory: A Historical Perspective 118 8 Knut Wicksell and the Causes of Poverty: Population Growth and Diminishing Returns 141 9 Gustav Cassel on Poverty: Growth, Not Grants! 160 10 Eli Heckscher on Poverty: Causes and Cures 178 Index 192 Economic thought,Adam Smith,Malthus,income distribution,international economy,development,social deprivation,individual poverty,neoclassical economics.