The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money

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John Maynard Keynes is the great British economist of the twentieth century whose hugely influential work The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money is undoubtedly the century s most important book on economics strongly influencing economic theory and practice, particularly with regard to the role of government in stimulating and regulating a nation s economic life. Keynes s work has undergone significant revaluation in recent years, and Keynesian views which have been widely defended for so long are now perceived as at odds with Keynes s own thinking. Recent scholarship and research has demonstrated considerable rivalry and controversy concerning the proper interpretation of Keynes's works, such that recourse to the original text is all the more important. Although considered by a few critics that the sentence structures of the book are quite incomprehensible and almost unbearable to read, the book is an essential reading for all those who desire a basic education in economics. The key to understanding Keynes is the notion that at particular times in the business cycle, an economy can become over-productive (or under-consumptive) and thus, a vicious spiral is begun that results in massive layoffs and cuts in production as businesses attempt to equilibrate aggregate supply and demand. Thus, full employment is only one of many or multiple macro equilibria. If an economy reaches an underemployment equilibrium, something is necessary to boost or stimulate demand to produce full employment. This something could be business investment but because of the logic and individualist nature of investment decisions, it is unlikely to rapidly restore full employment. Keynes logically seizes upon the public budget and government expenditures as the quickest way to restore full employment. Borrowing the money to finance the deficit from private households and businesses is a quick, direct way to restore full employment while at the same time, redirecting or siphoning off the funds from the private sector which caused the over-production is in the first place. Keynes s theory is unquestionably significant in understanding of modern economics. Far from being destructive, it alone has been responsible for nearly 60 years of growth without a major depression as we experienced worldwide in the 1930s. While the present book is indispensable for the students, researchers and teachers of Economics, it is highly useful for the general readers keenly interested in understanding nation s economy. Table Of Contents Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Book I: Introduction 1. The General Theory 2. The Postulates of the Classical Economics 3. The Principle of Effective Demand Book II: Definitions and Ideas 4. The Choice of Units 5. Expectation as Determining Output and Employment 6. The Definition of Income, Saving and Investment Appendix on User Cost 7. The Meaning of Saving and Investment Further Considered Book III: The Propensity to Consume 8. The Propensity to Consume: I. The Objective Factors 9. The Propensity to Consume: II. The Subjective Factors 10. The Marginal Propensity to Consume and the Multiplier Book IV: The Inducement to Invest 11. The Marginal Efficiency of Capital 12. The State of Long-term Expectation 13. The General Theory of the Rate of Interest 14. The Classical Theory of the Rate of Interest Appendix on the Rate of Interest in Marshall and Ricardo 15. The Psychological and Business Incentives to Liquidity 16. Sundry Observations on the Nature of Capital 17. The Essential Properties of Interest and Money 18. The General Theory of Employment Re-stated Book V: Money-Wages and Price 19. Changes in Money-Wages Appendix to Prof. Pigou's Theory of Unemployment 20. The Employment Function 21. The Theory of Prices Book VI: Short Notes Suggested by the General Theory 22. Notes on the Trade Cycle 23. Notes on Mercantilism, the Usury Laws, Stamped Money and Theories of Under-Consumption 24. Concluding Notes on the Social Philosophy towards which the General Theory might Lead