A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 43 “Ideas Made for a Bourgeois Revaluation” Dr. McCloskey is continuing her exploration for the factors that caused the Great Enrichment to occur when and where it did, nineteenth century England. She has been focusing on many economic and cultural factors so far, but…
Tag: Economic Thought
Bourgeois Equality
Why We Need a Supportive Government not a Predatory One
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 42 “Political Ideas Mattered for Equal Liberty and Dignity” Dr. McCloskey is examining the role political thinking played in making the trade tested betterment system work. She notes that many societies in the past, and now, have some elements needed for such a system…
Bourgeois Equality
Then the Printing Press Buoyed the Flow of Ideas, and thus the Bourgeois Revaluation
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 41 “Printing and Reading and Fragmentation Sustained the Dignity of Commoners” Dr. McCloskey is exploring the various factors that contributed to a culture supportive of the Great Enrichment, and now she turns her attention to the increase in the sharing of ideas that the…
Bourgeois Equality
And the Bourgeois Revaluation also needed a Happiness Revival
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 40 “The Theology of Happiness Changed Circa 1700” While last chapter, Dr. McCloskey explored the impact of the Radical Reformation movement on the church leading to a belief in self governance, in this chapter she explores the impact of changes in the theology of happiness….
Bourgeois Equality
Backward History Reveals Why the Bourgeoisie Rise
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 17 “It is a Truth Universally Acknowledged that even Dr. Johnson and Jane Austen Exhibit the Revaluation” Dr. McCloskey begins Part 3 of this opus (there are 10 parts!) by delving further into the origination of the ideas that led to the Great Enrichment….
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
Liberty and Dignity for Everyone Swamps Institution Quality
A Discussion of Bourgeois Equality Chapter 15 “And the Oomph of Institutional Change is Far Too Small” Dr. McCloskey continues critiquing the popular view of economists that good institutions explain the hundred-fold economic growth rate since the 18th century. For the past 2 chapters, she has argued that good institutions…
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….
Economic Thought
Economy not Developing? Check your Spirituality
A Discussion of “Morality and Spirituality: The missing link for economic development in the 21st century”. Economists postulate that it takes good institutions (laws, regulations, morality, customs) to create the incentives needed to organize your factors of production (capital, labor, etc.) to produce a growing output (GDP per capita). Kame…
Economic Thought
Can Ancient Greece Help Developing Economies?
A Discussion of “Morality, Institutions and the Wealth of Nations: Some Lessons from ancient Greece” When I teach macroeconomics, I know one question the students have is, “Why can’t we use all this economic knowledge to help poor countries grow?” And the answer is, we can, to a point. But,…