The Economics Of The Great Depression

‘Parker provides an interesting, detailed account of recent mainstream thought on the origins, transmission and the end of the Great Depression. He is a skilled investigator, whose knowledge and preparation contributed to a series of informative conversations with renowned scholars.’
– David A. Zalewski, Heterodox Economics Newsletter

‘This engaging book will provide entertaining and thought-provoking reading to anyone interested in current economic analysis of the great depression.’
– Robert W. Dimand, Economic History Review

‘Parker is an extremely knowledgeable interviewer. . . very interesting volume in that it pretty clearly lays out the different approaches and conclusions of many of the key scholars of this period.’
– Harold Cole, Journal of Economic Literature

‘This volume is organized into two parts, both of which are worthwhile. The first is a short overview of the economics of the Great Depression. The second part includes interviews with 12 eminent economists (e.g., Peter Temin, Ben Bernanke, Robert Lucas, Allan Meltzer) who have expertise on this topic. Because Parker is well versed in the literature, he is able to draw out his subjects in a way that engages them with each other, even though only one is present at the time. The result is a book that almost gives the impression of attending a high-powered symposium. . . The book is well structured, with a bibliography pointing readers to the underlying literature being discussed. Highly recommended.’
– M. Perelman, Choice

Comprising a series of unique and informative interviews, this original book focuses on the evolution and current state of the economic literature on the Great Depression. Renowned economists assess the status of the remaining debates, evaluate what economists do and do not know about the economics of the interwar era, and examine the new directions economic research is taking in attempting to better understand this important economic epoch.

Every generation of economists tries to understand the Depression, but the interwar generation of economists who lived through it left several issues unresolved. Often scholars from the generation that follows a particular event are the ones who provide fresh and disinterested evaluations of the historical period. We are now at that point in our evaluation of the economics of the interwar era. This book contains interviews with 12 American economists who have made substantial contributions to our understanding of the economics of the Great Depression: Peter Temin, Ben Bernanke, James Hamilton, Robert Lucas, Lee Ohanian, Christina Romer, Barry Eichengreen, Stephen Cecchetti, James Butkiewicz, Michael Bordo, Charles Calomiris and Allan Meltzer. Together and individually, they provide an enlightening account of what we have learned about the Great Depression from the post-World War II generation of economists.

This accessible, highly readable book continues and extends the discussion of the Great Depression, appealing to students and scholars of both economics and history.