Hundreds of individuals have impacted economics throughout its vast history. Only a handful of these individuals are household names recognized with economics today. However, many lessor known economists have made lasting impressions, often making attributions to the theories we know today. One of these individuals who influenced economics in this way was Irving Fisher. Irving Fisher was a very unique and brilliant man. He attended Yale University where he studied mathematics. He later used this background and applied it to economics, earning a PhD in economics, the first from Yale University. His study of mathematics played a crucial role in how his theories evolved. Almost all of his work involves mathematical computations to express …show more content…
Fisher explains that when the equilibrium between these two factors exists, the interest rate is thus determined. This theory of interest is still how we determine interest, even after about 100 years have passed since its introduction. Clearly this theory was well ahead of its time. In addition, Fisher stated that the real rate of interest generated by the interaction between the impatient rate and opportunity rate was not always the nominal rate due to inflation. He stated that the nominal rate minus the inflation rate equals the real rate that you are expected to earn. This relationship is known as the Fisher Effect and is a major principle in economics and finance in everyday calculations.
From these same works Fisher also developed the concept of the expenditure tax. The expenditure tax is different from the income tax because one is only taxed on income minus one’s net savings, rather than one’s whole income. Fisher believed the income tax induced bias against saving and created double taxation on both the income you earned initially and the income you earn from investing or saving money. Irving Fisher also made major contributions in to monetary economics. He expanded the old quantity theory of money by introducing the equation of exchange (MV = PT) in The Purchasing Power
Though born in 1890 to a wealthy British family, Fisher did not live a life of ease. His mother died when he was a teenager, and his father lost his wealth and business as a fine art dealer less than two years later. Afflicted since birth with extremely poor eyesight and in an attempt to preserve what vision he did have, Fisher was restricted from using pen and paper for his mathematical studies. Instead of using lengthy algebraic formulas to calculate problems, Fisher developed a geometric sense for computations which allowed him to visualize solutions (Salsburg, 2011). This skill enabled Fisher to calculate mathematical answers without noting the intermediary steps, much to the chagrin of his professional contemporaries and his graduate students (Bodmer, 2003). However, this ability to jump to the answer may have also enabled Fisher to explore new statistical methods instead of devoting his time to writing out the lengthy mathematical computations thereby
Alexander Hamilton is relevant in the past and present. Hamilton was the Secretary of Treasury under George Washington’s administration. During his
Many of his writings contributed to the Neoclassical Marginalist Revolution in the early 1900’s. This was the great shift from classical to neoclassical economics. He was also a big advocate of the League of Nations, because of his promotion of healthy living and world peace, and this in turn helped to eventually create the United Nations. His theories, no matter how controversial, helped shape economics into what it is
Economics is the study of choice and the consequences that come from said choices. Ever since the 18th century, economists have continued to argue about theories that could improve society to the greatest extent. Two great economists, Adam Smith and Karl Marx, proved to develop opposing ideologies that would soon become the foundation of the two most popular political philosophies. Even though they voiced opposing views, Smith and Marx have truly made the greatest impact on contemporary economic theory in the United States because without them, our capitalist economy would not be what it is today.
John Maynard Keynes (later Lord Keynes) would be the most influential economist at the time when development
Through recent and past years, gun laws have been a large area of discussion. Similar to most large areas of discussions, there are multiple opinions concerning gun laws. The United States Constitution’s Second Amendment grants the right for a United States citizen to keep and bear arms. However, many believe that the Second Amendment should be repealed. The varying opinions on both sides of this argument are very challenging to understand in depth. Although, through research, it is possible to explore the reasons on why different members
Another Mankiw principle that this touches upon is that society faces a short-run tradeoff between inflation and unemployment. Policymakers can intervene with this tradeoff, by using several different tools and this is one example of that. The unemployment rate is currently at a 17 year low, but the inflation rate is similarly low. By increasing the federal funds rate, the unemployment rate will continue to remain low, while an increase in inflation can be expected. Finally, the last Mankiw principle that the article relates to is that people respond to incentives. Because of the increased federal funds rate, people may be willing to save more in the hopes that interest rates will increase, and they will be paid more. At a lower federal funds rate, people may be willing to spend more, because interest rates will not pay them as much.
Milton Friedman’s ideas where thought to be radical, but he was the most authoritative figure in the economics field in the 20th century, (Placeholder2) and was known most for his thoughts on free enterprise, classical liberalism and limited government. (Placeholder3) His views shaped modern capitalism. (Placeholder2) He was against government intervention and favored free markets (Placeholder6).
In Alexander Kern’s “Emerson and Economics,” Kern draws attention to the economical aspects found in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s texts. Specifically, Kern discusses the lack of attention that Emerson’s economical notions receive. Emerson is not associated with being an economist writer, but Kern draws attention to how “he so frequently touched the subject than an understanding of his economic ideas is a prerequisite to the evaluation of his entire thought on any relative or absolute scale” (Kern 678). Kern’s theory that readers must extract the economics out of Emerson in order to comprehend his texts is extremely useful because it sheds insight on the difficult problem of viewing Emerson as an economist, yet he views Emerson as a moral
He is widely recognized for his key role in developing the field of human capital, the paradigm of rational choice is sociology and the application of economics modeling to key questions in political science.
One of the unifying aspects of all the narratives from this course is the presence of death. Particularly, in the work of Gilgamesh, the main character, Gilgamesh is redirected in his story by the presence of death through the death of Enkidu, tests, experiences, and his overall destiny throughout the literary work. All of this combined, illustrates to Gilgamesh, the inevitability of death and the reality that comes with being a mortal. However, Gilgamesh compromises with this new realization with the hope that his achievements can leave a legacy for himself to those of future generations.
He described economics as evolutionary, constantly changing with the values, customs and laws of society. It was, in part, the uniqueness of his theories of the nature of economic order that made them so significant. Nobody else at the time seemed to notice a problem in the lavish way the wealthy displayed their wealth.
Many economist write and speak like economist. The Milton Friedman paper I feel was written for economist, while the text by Frank appears better suited for the Economic student who is just beginning the process of learning economics. Chapters #1 and 2 in the text provide the economic knowledge that students including myself will use to create well formed opinions, and possible one-liners needed today to win over the masses in visible debates like casinos.
In the Bible As In Literature , Moses displays poor leadership skills when he is dependant on others and doubtful as he encounters God’s demands. Moses is dependant when he brings his brother Aaron to speak, when he is doubtful in speaking to the pharaoh, and when he does not believe that he can keep the Hebrews safe. When Moses is ordered by God, he denies that he should go and speak to the Pharaoh and says, “I am slow of speech and of tongue” (112). He eventually brings his brother Aaron to speak for him to the Pharaoh since he claims that he is slow. Moses is doubtful that he should go to the Pharaoh and dependant on Aaron during this situation. Along with this, Moses is doubtful when the Hebrews ask how taking them to the wilderness is
Adam Smith is considered to be the founder of a major field called Microeconomics, which is concerned with the behavior of individual entities such as markets, firms, and households. In 1776 Smith published The Wealth of Nations, a series