Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies [Hardcover]

E. K. Hunt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0765606089 | ISBN-13: 978-0765606082 | Publication Date: November 2002 | Edition: 7 Upd Sub

This introduction to the history of economic thought combines a discussion of the evolution of the most important institutions of capitalism, including analyses of ideological defences and radical critiques. This history shows the situations and interest groups that gave rise to classical economics, socialist theory, Marxian economics, Neoclassical economics, Veblenian economics, and Keynesian economics. Hunt interweaves economic and intellectual history while exploring the evolution of capitalism. This edition has been updated to feature new appendices as well as revised material on the demise of the Communist countries and the diminution of intensity of the Cold War.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 291 pages
• Publisher: M E Sharpe Inc; 7 Upd Sub edition (November 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765606089
• ISBN-13: 978-0765606082
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,621,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Critical Perspective On Capitalism:, February 10, 2002

By 

Mark Price (Salt Lake City, Utah USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies (Harpercollins Series in Economics) (Paperback)

Hunt's penetrating vision delivers both the history and the ideas, which have shaped our world. This book is of interest to those well read in economic theory as well as those seeking an introduction to how both its defenders and critics have viewed capitalism. Hunt explains the ideas of great economists like Smith, Ricardo, Malthus, Marx, Veblen and Keynes while insightfully describing the birth and continued evolution of capitalism. While Heilbroner's The Worldly Philosophers elevates the economist as the center of attention Hunt's Property and Prophets returns the emphasis to the arguments for and against capitalism.
At the dawn of the 21st century we find ourselves in the midst of a new wave of globalization that has resurrected centuries old debates over the efficacy of markets; those debates are described in this book. Those struggling to put people over profits should reconnect with the centuries of ideological struggle that preceded them and make Hunt's critical perspective required reading.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Former Student of Dr. Hunt, July 7, 2007

By 

Kirk H.C. Ruse "Ruse" (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies (Paperback)

Property and Prophets is an excellent exposition of alternative views on capitalism. I enjoyed reading the book for three main reasons:
1) It does a good job explaining the advent of capitalism and how this system differs form it predecessors.
2) It focuses on economics more than economists (as opposed to the Worldly Philosophers).
3) It gives you view of past and modern economic theory and practice that you are unlikely to encounter in mainstream economic books, popular press articles, or lectures.
All that being said the text is somewhat short for all the topics it attempts to touch on; however, no student has ever complained about a required text being a little too short. Also, the book is not a stand-alone introduction to economics. What I mean is the author assumes that readers are at least somewhat familiar with modern neoclassical and Keynesian economics (insert your prefix of choice for the latter). Overall, it does do the intended job of introducing the reader to historical and contemporary radical critiques of capitalism. Economists often forget that our discipline, and capitalism in general, has a difficult time answering some pretty basic ethical, anthropological, and metaphysical questions (let alone the hard ones). So reads this book and ponder some of these issues, you might find answers to them and you might not, but remembers as Voltaire said, "Burning is not answering".

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Critique is a Good Thing, December 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies (Paperback)

This book provides an alternative view of the nature of capitalism. Economics is the lap dog of capitalist ideology. This work provides both an alternative approach as well as historical truths and information that help the reader better understand both economics and capitalism.