Abstract

'Why the Economists Got It Wrong' illustrates the origins and development of the financial crisis, tracing  its cultural origins in mainstream views which favoured financial liberalization policies. These views are contrasted with those of Keynes and Keynesian economists such as Minsky. Thus, among other things, Keynes’s ideas on uncertainty and Minsky’s ideas on financial fragility are taken up. The book points to an interpretation of economic events where uncertainty plays a central role, the dichotomy between real and monetary variables is rejected, and elements from the Classical approach are revived. This implies drastic changes in economic policy recipes, and particularly at economic policies aimed at building institutional and regulatory structures in order to counter financial fragility.

‘Why the Economists Got It Wrong’ illustrates the origins and development of the financial crisis, tracing its cultural origins in mainstream views which favoured financial liberalization policies. These views are contrasted with those of Keynes and Keynesian economists such as Minsky, pointing to an interpretation of economic events where uncertainty plays a central role and economic policy is aimed at building institutional and regulatory structures in order to counter financial fragility.

Alessandro Roncaglia is a professor of economics at the University of Rome La Sapienza and a member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Rome, Italy.