Keynes Hayek

The Clash That Defined Modern Economics

By: Nicholas Wapshott

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

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

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)

An unbiased evaluation of both the major economist

** 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.

Solid history, weak discussion of issues

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.

Sometimes Dry or Mild, but always Interesting

An interesting read, but perhaps CLASH was the wrong word.

The story of two giants of their time, but the book is far more a history then a compelling story. Not high marks, yet if this subject matter is in your realm of interests I would recommend it, if you are new to economics then wishlist for later.

Good expo of 20th century economics and politics

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.

Authors bias spoils an interesting story.

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.

A momentuous time

Would you listen to Keynes Hayek again? Why?

This is an excellent book describing the lives of the two most important economists of the XXth Century, Their debate on ideas forged the future events to this day.

What did you like best about this story?

The chronological story helps the reader to understand the impact of specific conferences, papers or books in the ongoing debate

What does Gildart Jackson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Magnificent English for a non-English speaker

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, although I did not have the time to do it

Riveting

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.

Biography, History and Economic Scholarship in One

Any additional comments?

This book is a masterful combination of world events, the personal experiences of Keynes and Hayek, their interactions during their lifetimes, and their continuing influences up to the present day. Listeners with some background in economics will find this book more enjoyable than those that don't.

Excelent

Interesting from start to finish. Excelent reading, and very iluminating series of anecdotes to drive the narrative.

Great Read!

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