Richard F. Kahn

“This masterly intellectual biography finally reveals the profile of the economist who Samuelson described as the ‘elusive figure who hides in the preface of Cambridge books’. It is a must read for anyone interested in the Cambridge tradition in economics and in one of its more important protagonists.”

— Maria Cristina Marcuzzo, Sapienza, Università di Roma and Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.

“A long-awaited intellectual biography of one the most ubiquitous yet cautious and discrete Cambridge economists, and based on an admirable knowledge of unpublished archives and correspondence. Scrupulously fair with his treatment of Kahn, the author offers an extremely well-balanced appreciation of the progressive fragmentation of the Cambridge tradition.”

—Pascal Bridel, Centre Walras-Pareto, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland.

“Paolo Paesani’s readable and richly-documented intellectual biography of the great Cambridge economist Richard Kahn is an indispensable contribution to understanding three major developments in 20th century economics: Keynes’s revolutionary breakthrough in macroeconomics, the emergence of imperfect competition, and Post-Keynesian growth and development theory.”

—Robert Dimand, Professor of Economics, Brock University, Ontario, Canada.

This book is the first comprehensive intellectual biography of Richard F. Kahn. It focuses on the development of his ideas, their cultural and political context, and his influence during one of the most interesting periods for the development of economics in the 20th century. Particular attention is paid to Kahn’s work on the theory of imperfect competition, liquidity preference and speculation, inflation and unemployment. Kahn’s connection with Marshallian economics, his relationship with Keynes, and his role in the development of the post-Keynesian economics at Cambridge are also discussed.

Richard F. Kahn: An Intellectual Biography highlights Richard F. Kahn’s contribution to post-war macroeconomic theory and policy. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in economics, economic policy and the history of economic thought.

Paolo Paesani is Full Professor of History of Economic Thought at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.