The Economic Approach
Unpublished Writings of Gary S. Becker
Gary S Becker author Kevin M Murphy editor Casey B Mulligan editor Julio J Elias editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:The University of Chicago Press
Published:1st Sep '23
Should be back in stock very soon
A revealing collection from the intellectual titan whose work shaped the modern world.
As an economist and public intellectual, Gary S. Becker was a giant. The recipient of a Nobel Prize, a John Bates Clark Medal, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, Becker is widely regarded as the greatest microeconomist in history.
After forty years at the University of Chicago, Becker left a slew of unpublished writings that used an economic approach to human behavior, analyzing such topics as preference formation, rational indoctrination, income inequality, drugs and addiction, and the economics of family.
These papers unveil the process and personality—direct, critical, curious—that made him a beloved figure in his field and beyond. The Economic Approach examines these extant works as a capstone to the Becker oeuvre—not because the works are perfect, but because they offer an illuminating, instructive glimpse into the machinations of an economist who wasn’t motivated by publications. Here, and throughout his works, an inquisitive spirit remains remarkable and forever resonant.
“The Economic Approach is a fascinating collection of Gary S. Becker's unpublished works with additional, insightful commentary on both his life and the works contained in this book. . . .The Economic Approach succeeds in giving readers at different educational levels in economics an understanding of how economics can be used as a method of inquiry into all kinds of human behavior. . . .While Becker's finished works and the published works of many other economists also cover these topics, this book's unique contribution is revealing Becker's thought process through his still-in-progress writings. . . .Highly recommended.” * Choice *
"We have been granted a lucky bonus after studying the finished books and papers that Becker published. . . .The Economic Approach gives us a glimpse of the way Becker's thoughts evolved when faced with a knotty problem: here we have sketches of the models that he so solidly built with the help of calculus. Statistical intuition is implicit. He was making them ready for empirical observation and testing." * Economic Affairs *
"The Economic Approach is superb from start to finish. A wonderful tribute to a pathbreaking intellect." -- Douglas A. Irwin | Dartmouth College
"Gary Becker is one of the greatest economists of all time. The Economic Approach is perhaps the best place to start dipping into his work." -- Tyler Cowen | George Mason University
"What a tremendous book! Becker was a giant, with an extraordinary combination of intense focus and curiosity, and you can see his genius here. Be prepared to be surprised and illuminated—and to have some fun in the process.” -- Cass R. Sunstein | author of "Too Much Information"
ISBN: 9780226827209
Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 20mm
Weight: 426g
184 pages