|
Economists are the scholars who specialize in economics. They study the concepts of economics and devise methods to fuel economic prosperity. Various economists have presented theories and created models to explain the functioning of the economy as a whole.
Famous Economists
Some of the most distinguished economists are:
Adam Smith (1723-1790): Also known as the ‘father of modern economics,’ Adam Smith was the pioneer of political economy. His ‘Wealth of Nations’ is considered the first modern work of economics. In this piece, he explained the benefits of a free market economy where self interest would result in the betterment of the economy as a whole. He argued that if an individual pursued his own interests to maximize his revenues, he would be contributing more to the total proceeds of the society. Smith was against the formation of monopolies.
- John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946): His 'General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money' made him the most notable economist of the twentieth century. Keynes fiercely advocated interventionist government policies. According to him, these would help in lessening the ill effects resulting from depressions and recessions. Though the Keynesian theories were attacked in the 1970s (especially by Milton Friedman), they regained importance after the 2008 global downturn. US President Barack Obama is using the Keynesian principles to revive the American economy.
- Milton Friedman (1912 -2006): An advocate of free market, Friedman challenged the Keynesian policies which, according to him, were responsible for causing worldwide inflation. He argued against government intervention in a market economy. He also revived the 'Quantity Theory of Money.' Referring to the Great Depression, he said that it was caused by an ordinary financial shock. However, the effects were intensified by the imprudent policies of the Federal Reserve.
- Joseph Eugene Stiglitz (1943-): This American economist was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2001. He is most famous for ‘Screening,’ a technique in which an economic agent strives to pull sensitive information from another agent. He criticized free-market economists and international organizations such as the IMF and the World Bank.
- Friedrich von Hayek (1899-1992): An Austrian economist, he belonged to the classical liberal school and advocated free-market capitalism. His ‘Road to Serfdom’ is an inspiration for all those who uphold political freedom.
These economists not only studied the market dynamics on micro and macro levels, but also contributed in devising broader philosophical theories for a more balanced world.
|