From Marx to Markets
An Intellectual Odyssey
Published on 11. March 2025
Book
Hardback
392 pages
978-1-0353-5009-4 (ISBN)
Description
In this revealing and eminently readable book, Geoffrey M. Hodgson takes readers on an intellectual odyssey through his distinguished career and his work as one of the leading institutional and evolutionary economists. Depicting his life throughout the Cold War, grappling with the military and economic rivalry of two different systems and the threat of nuclear war, to becoming an economist in the 1970s, and his ventures into institutional and evolutionary economics.
Examining the evolution of Hodgson's thinking and citing the events and experiences that helped to transform his vision, chapters cover the impact of the Cold War and subsequent events on Hodgson's thinking. He summarizes his main written contributions, with suggestions for the reform of economics and the development of its theoretical foundations. The book also calls for the development of better theories and policies in economics, helping to yield more effective outcomes to enhance human wellbeing and build a better and fairer world.
Showcasing some of the problems and potentialities of the discipline, From Marx to Markets is a useful resource for students considering, or having embarked on, the study of economics. It is also an essential read for academics in the social sciences and law.
Examining the evolution of Hodgson's thinking and citing the events and experiences that helped to transform his vision, chapters cover the impact of the Cold War and subsequent events on Hodgson's thinking. He summarizes his main written contributions, with suggestions for the reform of economics and the development of its theoretical foundations. The book also calls for the development of better theories and policies in economics, helping to yield more effective outcomes to enhance human wellbeing and build a better and fairer world.
Showcasing some of the problems and potentialities of the discipline, From Marx to Markets is a useful resource for students considering, or having embarked on, the study of economics. It is also an essential read for academics in the social sciences and law.
Reviews / Votes
'This is a major, seminal work which should be read by all economists and other social scientists.' -- Braham Dabscheck, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia and The Economic and Labour Relations Review 'Fascinating, insightful, often provocative and elegantly written throughout - this is an intellectual odyssey well worth joining.' -- Dennis Tourish, University of Sussex, UK 'This fascinating and important book reveals how Geoff Hodgson evolved from an activist on the British political left to a global leader in institutional and evolutionary economics, and how his thinking changed during his long career. It will not only satisfy the curiosity of established academics, especially those who have struggled to keep up with his prodigious output, it is also essential reading for early-career economists, who will benefit from its historical perspectives, and how economics should be practised to help create a better world.' -- Peter Earl, University of Queensland, Australia 'Geoffrey Hodgson is one of the most prominent institutional economists of our time. His rich and insightful contributions to economics are numerous. In this nicely written autobiography, we are introduced to his fascinating journey from a Marxist thinker to a founder of legal institutionalism. His enduring concern has always been the betterment of human life through the knowledge of economics and social sciences.' -- Mehrdad Vahabi, University of Paris 13 North, France 'This book beautifully, honestly and without sentimentality blends a judicious exposition of steps personal with the unfolding and shared stories of steps intellectual, public and professional. This book is a gateway to Hodgson's research over 50 years, including for people who are not economists by training.' -- Anthony Kasozi, Quilibria Consulting, UK 'This is a profound and admirable book that had a lasting impression on me. Among other things, it is an intriguing account of the importance of ideas and their dissemination.' -- Juha-Antti Lamberg, University of Jyvaeskylae, FinlandMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-5009-4 (9781035350094)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Geoffrey M. Hodgson, Emeritus Professor, Loughborough University London, UK
Content
Contents
Preface vi
PART I Histories
1 Science and the Cold War 3
2 Revolution and youth 23
3 Crises in theory and in reality 41
4 A road less travelled 65
5 Britain under the Iron Lady 89
6 Rummaging the attic of past ideas 113
PART II Themes
7 The nature and importance of definitions 147
8 The future of evolutionary economics 177
9 The development of institutional analysis 205
10 After the Great Crash: socialism versus liberal solidarity 239
11 Building an economics for a better world 275
Appendix 1 A Plea for a Pluralistic and Rigorous Economics (1990) 00
Appendix 2 Letter to the Queen (2009) 299
Appendix 3 Most highly cited works on Google Scholar 302
List of works (partly or wholly) by Geoffrey M. Hodgson 305
Preface vi
PART I Histories
1 Science and the Cold War 3
2 Revolution and youth 23
3 Crises in theory and in reality 41
4 A road less travelled 65
5 Britain under the Iron Lady 89
6 Rummaging the attic of past ideas 113
PART II Themes
7 The nature and importance of definitions 147
8 The future of evolutionary economics 177
9 The development of institutional analysis 205
10 After the Great Crash: socialism versus liberal solidarity 239
11 Building an economics for a better world 275
Appendix 1 A Plea for a Pluralistic and Rigorous Economics (1990) 00
Appendix 2 Letter to the Queen (2009) 299
Appendix 3 Most highly cited works on Google Scholar 302
List of works (partly or wholly) by Geoffrey M. Hodgson 305