A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 18 “No Woman but a Blockhead Wrote for Anything but Money” In this chapter, Dr. McCloskey is continuing with the idea initiated the last chapter: Jane Austen illustrates the bourgeois ideals in her writing, though she herself was not bourgeois. Backward History Reveals Why…
Tag: Economic History
Bourgeois Equality
Are Libertarians Right about Government?
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 16 “Most Governmental Institutions Make Us Poorer” Calling all libertarians! I think this chapter is for you. This chapter wraps up Part 2. Chapters 10 and 11 showed the Left’s explanations for the Great Enrichment were wrong, but Chapter 12 and 13 did the…
Bourgeois Equality
Good Institutions are not Enough — You Still Need Good Ideas
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 14 “Because Ethics Matters, and Changes, More” I’ll be honest. If the first few chapters read like this one, I never would have thought to do this chapter by chapter review! That is not because this chapter is bad, but it did challenge me….
Bourgeois Equality
You Cannot Steal Economic Growth
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 10, “Divergence not Imperialism” Welcome to chapter 10 of McCloskey’s book, Bourgeoise Equality, as we continue the chapter by chapter walk through. Historically, Poor was Normal Today’s chapter is beginning Part 2 in her book, examining the question, why are the rich countries rich…
Bourgeois Equality
Is What You “Know” About Growth Wrong?
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 9, “The Great International Divergence Can Be Overcome” McCloskey wraps up part 1 with this chapter asking a great question that has surely popped in your head if you’ve been reading these chapter reviews. But what about the poor right now in the rest…
Bourgeois Equality
Note to the Right: You Need More Faith in Economic Growth
A Discussion of Chapter 8 “Or From the Right and Middle” While last chapter, McCloskey argued against the anti-growth beliefs of the Left, now she says the Right suffers from a lack of faith in the Great Enrichment continuing in the future. Note to the Left: You are Wrong about…
Bourgeois Equality
Note to the Left: You are Wrong about Economic Growth
A Discussion of Chapter 7 “Despite Doubts from the Left” Economic growth is the result of the Bourgeois Deal that allowed us to escape subsistence living, and yet the Left eyes growth with suspicion, concerns, criticism, and policies that would slow or stop it. Capitalism and the Hockey Stick In…
Bourgeois Equality
When Would You Rather be Poor?
A Discussion of Chapter 5 “The Poor Were Made Much Better Off” If you had to agree to be in the bottom 20% of income, would you rather do it now or in 1800? And would you rather be in France with a GDP per capita of $44,000 or N. Korea at $649…