Description
Book SynopsisPerhaps no economist was more vindicated by the global financial crisis than Hyman P. Minsky (1919-96). Although a handful of economists raised alarms as early as 2000, Minsky's warnings began a half-century earlier, with writings that set out a compelling theory of financial instability. Yet even today he remains largely outside mainstream economi
Trade Review"An accessible introduction to the economist who saw the global financial crisis coming."--Bookseller Buyer's Guide "Written in clear prose, with Minsky's idiosyncratic ideas and language patiently explained ... [this book] provides the best general introduction to Minsky's economics."--Edward Chancellor, Reuters Breaking Views "I came away from the book with considerably more understanding of Minsky's views and a greater respect for them."--Arnold Kling, Econlib "[A] crystal-clear summary of Minsky's life's work... While Minsky is now quite well known, his contributions are still widely ignored or misunderstood. This makes Wray's book a godsend... By making his insights accessible to a general audience for the first time, Wray's book has the potential to transform the future of economic policymaking and, with it, to create a better life for future generations."--Victoria Bateman, Times Higher Education "A useful and accessible overview of both what Minsky said and--as the title puts it--why it matters."--Diane Coyle, The Enlightened Economist blog "Why Minsky Matters ... brings together the maverick economist's work in a more accessible form."--Ishan Bakshi, Business Standard "Why Minsky Mattersserves up a rich variety of concepts that will stimulate and inform anyone concerned about the fate of the economy. If you want to know where we are going, it helps to know where we have come from, andWhy Minsky Mattersprovides an essential road map for that journey--past, present, and future."--Financial Analysts Journal "A highly readable overview of the contributions of Hyman Minsky, and justifies the title as to how Minsky matters."--Malcolm Sawyer, Journal of Economic Literature "One might think this book is a biography of the economist Hyman Minsky, but it is much more than that. In a thoroughly engaging, elucidating way, the author summarizes macroeconomic theories from Adam Smith to Keynes and the present."--Choice "A fine book that successfully brings Minsky's great contributions to our attention again. If there should be an after-life, one of its purest pleasures for me would be to have the chance to discuss monetary analysis with Hyman Minsky for a sizeable chunk of eternity. Wray's book gives a foretaste of such heavenly interaction."--Charles Goodhart, European Journal of the History of Economic Thought
Table of ContentsPreface vii Introduction 1 1 Overview of Minsky's Main Contributions 21 2 Where Did We Go Wrong? Macroeconomics and the Road Not Taken 47 3 Minsky's Early Contributions: The Financial Instability Hypothesis 71 4 Minsky's Views on Money and Banking 87 5 Minsky's Approach to Poverty and Unemployment 109 6 Minsky and the Global Financial Crisis 137 7 Minsky and Financial Reform 163 8 Conclusion: Reforms to Promote Stability, Democracy, Security, and Equality 193 Notes 223 Further Reading 253 The Collected Writings of Hyman P. Minsky 257 Index 269
