John R. Hicks : An Intellectual Biography

Sir John Hicks is one of the true giants of twntieth--century economics and he has had a significant impact on almost every aspect of economic theory. His resurrection and perfection of the General Equilibrium theory of Walras and Pareto became the foundation of contemporary microeconomics, and his interpretation of Keynesa General Theory through the IS--LM diagram set the course of Keynesianism and the ensuing development of macroeconomics. The invention of the a elasticity of substitutiona may also be counted among his greatest achievements. This book represents the first scholarly and comprehensive analysis of Hicka s economics. O. F. Hamouda demonstrates that Hicks had a coherent methodology and a complex but complete vision of economics. The book begins with a fascinating account of hicka s life and career and goes on to analyse his contribution to the many areas of the subject in which he was active. The author shows how Hicksa ideas were proposed, how they were transformed over time and how, through time, the pieces fit together. Above all, the book charts thte development of a remarkable mind in our discipline in this century. It provides biographical insights that are not otherwise available, and offers valuable guidance to the work based on Sir Johna s own evaluations rather than those more common and resting only on the predilections of the commentator.