Keynes Hayek Audiobook By Nicholas Wapshott cover art

Keynes Hayek

The Clash That Defined Modern Economics

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Keynes Hayek

By: Nicholas Wapshott
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
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As the stock market crash of 1929 plunged the world into turmoil, two men emerged with competing claims on how to restore the balance to economies gone awry. John Maynard Keynes, the mercurial Cambridge economist, believed that government had a duty to spend when others would not. He met his opposite in a little-known Austrian economics professor, Friedrich Hayek, who considered attempts to intervene both pointless and potentially dangerous. The battle lines thus drawn, Keynesian economics would dominate for decades and coincide with an era of unprecedented prosperity, but conservative economists and political leaders would eventually embrace and execute Hayek's contrary vision.

From their first face-to-face encounter to the heated arguments between their ardent disciples, Nicholas Wapshott here unearths the contemporary relevance of Keynes and Hayek, as present-day arguments over the virtues of the free market and government intervention rage with the same ferocity as they did in the 1930s.

©2011 Nicholas Wapshott (P)2011 Tantor Economic History Economics Theory Deficit Taxation Capitalism Banking Government Socialism Deflation Economic disparity Economic Inequality Economic Policy Tariff Liberalism Soviet Union US Economy Export Capital Market Great Recession Franklin D. Roosevelt

Critic reviews

"Wapshott offers a colorful look at a bygone period and the theories that epitomize the economic divide still shaping Anglo-American politics today." ( Publishers Weekly)
Engaging Storytelling • Insightful Biographical Details • Magnificent Narration • Comprehensive Historical Context
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This is how economics should be taught: Reflecting on the history of choices made and their impacts really helps us to understand various economic terms and scenarios.

The author created a masterful presentation on capitalism, its value, and its vulnerability.

Gilbert Jackson delivered the message with a perfect accent.

If there were any weaknesses in the presentation of Hayek and Keynes, it would be that there could have been more material covering Hayek’s vision for economics and society. However, it is understandable that this cannot be the case since there are no cases in history of societies implementing anything truly close to what Hayek proposed.

Lastly, character-wise, in spite of the author’s desire to present a balanced account of both men, readers will put two and two together and conclude that Keynes was a great man and Hayek was not.

[Even though the author calls them both “exceptional men”.]

I found this book very enlightening and I wish everyone had the time to enjoy it. It’s fundamental to understanding our present economic and social circumstances.

Riveting

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This book does a good job of covering the battle between the theories of Keynes and Hayek, and reveals some insights into our 20th century presidents' economic ideas, successes and failures.

Good expo of 20th century economics and politics

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Good insights to fiscal policy that will get you reaching for more books on the matter.

A good insight to the history of fiscal policy

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This is a promising book about a pivotal ideological difference on economics, the role of the state and individual freedom. Unfortunately the promise is hollowed by an author unable to hide his own ideology and preference.

Objectivity by the author would have made for a far better book.

Authors bias spoils an interesting story.

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A great mix of history, tension, and economic thinking, anchored in 2 men. I had to listen to a number of parts twice, but upon finishing I’m astonished by how much my appreciation for economics has grown.

Dense for a non-Economist, but worth it

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** Disclaimer - Am a classical economist and prefer Austrian economics to Keynes remedies. ***

Unlike many economist authors, this author is unbiased and lays it out factually.
His ability to separate opinion from facts makes the book easy to digest. Hats off to the author.
His first brilliant assessment that Keynes talks about Macro while Hayek talks about Micro economics sets the stage and expectations that the two shall never compete on an equal platform.
Next, he walks us through each personal life, although i feel he explored and criticized Hayek's personal life more than Keynes.
The success of Keynes and how governments devoured his advice of intervention is elucidated clearly. I can now see how the world fell into his enthrall (and his ability of public speak).
Hayek's greatest weakness and the classical school's weakness was its extreme insistence on laissez faire to the point of being cruel.
Add to that, Hayek's inability as a public speaker. If probably Hayek were like President Reagan, we would have seen a Hayekian world now. Sadly Keynes was a better preacher.
The first Great conflict between Hayek and Keynes as criticism of Keynes's first book makes for interesting reading, anecdotally.
Keynesian economics assumes that the economy is a fragile thing, one that involves constant tweaking by the State. This automatically assumes that entrepreneurship is guided by the hand of the State. Keynes does not explain business cycles and why they happen. Instead he talks about how to spend yourself out of recession. However, the Great Depression was becoming a past thing by 1936 as the author noted, before keynes remedies were fully applied.
Hayek assumes that the economy is a living, breathing sentient being which can find its own path through the judgements and decisions of millions of entrepreneurs who make them. Much like the millions of cells in a human body.
Hayek proves that State intervention skews up the investment judgements made by individual investors and thus forces them to make bad judgements.
That may be true, but when an economy is in a slump, Hayek prescribes doom and despair to Keynes's optimistic approach.
In short, a book worth reading.

An unbiased evaluation of both the major economist

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What made the experience of listening to Keynes Hayek the most enjoyable?

I was primarily interested in a discussion of the economic issues, where the economists agreed, where they disagreed, and how Hayek and Keynes changed their opinions over time.The book assumed more knowledge of the issues than I have, and while, making the positions of the economists clear, it did not help me understand the reasoning behind their conclusions. Nor did I get a clear understanding of how - and why- their positions changed over time.On the other hand, the biographies of not only Hayek and Keynes, but of their contemporaries - and the setting of their lives in the events of their times - were fascinating. I was especially impressed with the portrayal of Herbert Spencer, the Webbs, and Alfred Lord Marshall. The portrayal of the Austrian school was weaker but still made profitable listening.This work was both enjoyable and profitable. I expect to listen to it again.

Solid history, weak discussion of issues

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This is an excellent summation. I'm sure I'll be referencing this text for many years.

Great Read!

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Excellent breakdown of 20th century Western economics. Helps you understand who Keynes and Hayek we're as well as who they studied and influenced. Truly remarkable.

Profound

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The details of the debate and non-debate between Keynes and Hayek is not always enjoyable or informative. The final few chapters are, on the other hand, enjoyable and informative.

Finishes strong

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