Post-Keynesian Economics and the Global Polycrisis

The ninetieth anniversary of the publication of John Maynard Keynes’ The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money marks an ideal opportunity to revisit one of the most important books of the 20th Century.

In this edited collection, an international cast list of contributors provide a thorough assessment of the past, present and future of the impact of this book on both the economy and the study of economics. Keynes’ insights and arguments, as set out in the ‘General Theory’, not only revolutionized economic theory and influenced the course of capitalism, but also continue to be discussed in economic courses and adopted by policymakers almost ninety years after its publication. It was notable that during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009, and again during the COVID-19 crisis, Keynesian economic policies were widely implemented to aid in the recovery of levels of effective demand for the purpose of mitigating the impacts of both crises. The present book explores the ideas and insights presented by Keynes in the ‘General Theory’ as well as the main tenets of Keynesian public policy. It also examines the key arguments of Post-Keynesian economics seeking to understand not only the modus operandi of monetary economies, but also the economic proposals to reform capitalism at domestic and global levels. Additionally, the book to provide new theoretical and empirical perspectives on Post-Keynesian economics, reaffirming the relevance of Keynes's ideas 90 years later.

The book is essential reading for anyone interested in the idea of Keynes, Post-Keynesian economics and political economy more broadly.