John Maynard Keynes
1st Baron Keynes of Tilton
(5 June 1883, Cambridge, England – 21 April 1946, Tilton, East Sussex, England) (aged 62)
Nationality: United Kingdom
Category: Scientists
Occupation: Economists
Unique distinction: One of the most influential economists of the 20th century, and the Father of modern macroeconomics or Keynesian economics.
Gender: Male
(5 June 1883, Cambridge, England – 21 April 1946, Tilton, East Sussex, England) (aged 62)
Nationality: United Kingdom
Category: Scientists
Occupation: Economists
Unique distinction: One of the most influential economists of the 20th century, and the Father of modern macroeconomics or Keynesian economics.
Gender: Male
Quotes:
1. Ideas shape the course of history.
2. The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.
3. Successful investing is anticipating the anticipations of others.
4. Nothing mattered except states of mind, chiefly our own.
5. When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?
6. It is better to be roughly right than precisely wrong.
7. A study of the history of opinion is a necessary preliminary to the emancipation of the mind.
8. The importance of money flows from it being a link between the present and the future. 9. The social object of skilled investment should be to defeat the dark forces of time and ignorance which envelope our future.
1. Ideas shape the course of history.
2. The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.
3. Successful investing is anticipating the anticipations of others.
4. Nothing mattered except states of mind, chiefly our own.
5. When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?
6. It is better to be roughly right than precisely wrong.
7. A study of the history of opinion is a necessary preliminary to the emancipation of the mind.
8. The importance of money flows from it being a link between the present and the future. 9. The social object of skilled investment should be to defeat the dark forces of time and ignorance which envelope our future.
Video: Keynesian Economics
Achievements and contributions:
Social and professional position: John Keynes was a British economist and monetary expert.
The main contribution to (Best known for): Keynes is best known for his theory of “Keynesian economics”. His ideas have been a central influence on modern macroeconomics. They fundamentally changed the theory and practice of the economic policies of governments.
Contributions: John Keynes was a British economist and monetary expert whose ideas have been a central influence on modern macroeconomics. His ideas are the basis for the school of thought known as Keynesian economics, and its various offshoots.
Keynes spearheaded a revolution in economic thinking, overturning the older ideas of neoclassical economics that held that free markets correct themselves and would automatically provide full employment.
His book “The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money” (1936), which criticized this orthodox view, revolutionized economic theory and became the origin of Keynesianism.
Coming at a time when many nations had been racked by depressed economies, the book offered a sharp critique of laissez-faire economic policies and argued that central government needed to step in, particularly during periods of chronic unemployment.
He advocated interventionist government policy, by which governments would use fiscal and monetary measures to mitigate the adverse effects of business cycles, economic recessions, and depressions.
He advised the British and American governments to realize a massive public works program to emerge from the depths of the Depression, and he endorsed deficit spending as a response to recessions.
Although Keynes favoured controlled investment and an active public sector, he never wavered in his faith in the capitalist market economy. Thus, in Keynesian theory, government action is designed to stimulate the market, not to eliminate it.
Notable ideas: Macroeconomics, Keynesian economics, Liquidity preference, Spending multiplier, AD–AS model, Deficit spending.
Major works: Indian Currency and Finance (1913), Tract on Monetary Reform (1923) the Treatise on Money (1930). The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money (1936), How to Pay for the War (1940).
The main contribution to (Best known for): Keynes is best known for his theory of “Keynesian economics”. His ideas have been a central influence on modern macroeconomics. They fundamentally changed the theory and practice of the economic policies of governments.
Contributions: John Keynes was a British economist and monetary expert whose ideas have been a central influence on modern macroeconomics. His ideas are the basis for the school of thought known as Keynesian economics, and its various offshoots.
Keynes spearheaded a revolution in economic thinking, overturning the older ideas of neoclassical economics that held that free markets correct themselves and would automatically provide full employment.
His book “The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money” (1936), which criticized this orthodox view, revolutionized economic theory and became the origin of Keynesianism.
Coming at a time when many nations had been racked by depressed economies, the book offered a sharp critique of laissez-faire economic policies and argued that central government needed to step in, particularly during periods of chronic unemployment.
He advocated interventionist government policy, by which governments would use fiscal and monetary measures to mitigate the adverse effects of business cycles, economic recessions, and depressions.
He advised the British and American governments to realize a massive public works program to emerge from the depths of the Depression, and he endorsed deficit spending as a response to recessions.
Although Keynes favoured controlled investment and an active public sector, he never wavered in his faith in the capitalist market economy. Thus, in Keynesian theory, government action is designed to stimulate the market, not to eliminate it.
Notable ideas: Macroeconomics, Keynesian economics, Liquidity preference, Spending multiplier, AD–AS model, Deficit spending.
Major works: Indian Currency and Finance (1913), Tract on Monetary Reform (1923) the Treatise on Money (1930). The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money (1936), How to Pay for the War (1940).
Career and personal life:
Origin: He was born in Cambridge to a middle-class family. His father, John Neville Keynes, was a lecturer at Cambridge University and his mother Florence Ada Keynes is active in charitable works. Keynes’s brother Sir Geoffrey Keynes (1887–1982) was a distinguished surgeon, scholar, and bibliophile. His nephews were Richard Keynes (1919–2010), a physiologist, and Quentin Keynes (1921–2003), an adventurer and bibliophile.
Education: Keynes had his early education at home and in kindergarten. He attended St Faith’s preparatory school as a day pupil from 1892-1897. He studied at Eton King’s College and Cambridge University, (BA in Mathematics 1905).
Influenced by: Thomas Malthus, Knut Wicksell, Bertrand Russell
Career highlights: After an education at Eton King’s College and Cambridge University, (BA in Mathematics 1905), he worked in the India Office in 1906–1908, and then returned to teach economics at Cambridge.
After 1919, he also had a successful career in the world of finance as a company director, insurance company chairman and a director of the Bank of England (1941–6). and bursar of King’s College, Cambridge.
At Cambridge, Keynes took an active part in the scientific society activity, whose members were the philosophers George Moore, Bertrand Russell and writer Virginia Woolf.
In the years following 1936, Keynes spent most of his time in public service, producing several articles on the subject of war financing. During World War II he was a consultant to the chancellor of the exchequer and a director of the Bank of England. He was raised to the peerage in 1942.
Personal life: During his studies at school teachers described Keynes as brilliant, but on occasion, careless and lacking in determination.
In 1925 he married Lydia Lopokova, a well-known Russian ballerina. They had no children.
Under the influence of his friends and wife Lydia Lopokova (ballerina dancer of the Diaghilev Ballet, (1892- 1981), he played an active and important role in the cultural life. Keynes was also a patron of the arts, an advisor to several charitable trusts, a writer, a private investor, an art collector, and even a farmer.
Keynes died of a heart attack at Tilton, on 21 April 1946, at the age of 62 years old.
Remains: Cremated, (ashes scattered on the Downs above Tilton).
Zest: Of towering stature, Keynes stood at 198 cm or six foot, six inches. He had a romantic relationship with the painter Duncan Grant and financially supported him whole his life. Keynes was a firm supporter of women’s rights.
Education: Keynes had his early education at home and in kindergarten. He attended St Faith’s preparatory school as a day pupil from 1892-1897. He studied at Eton King’s College and Cambridge University, (BA in Mathematics 1905).
Influenced by: Thomas Malthus, Knut Wicksell, Bertrand Russell
Career highlights: After an education at Eton King’s College and Cambridge University, (BA in Mathematics 1905), he worked in the India Office in 1906–1908, and then returned to teach economics at Cambridge.
After 1919, he also had a successful career in the world of finance as a company director, insurance company chairman and a director of the Bank of England (1941–6). and bursar of King’s College, Cambridge.
At Cambridge, Keynes took an active part in the scientific society activity, whose members were the philosophers George Moore, Bertrand Russell and writer Virginia Woolf.
In the years following 1936, Keynes spent most of his time in public service, producing several articles on the subject of war financing. During World War II he was a consultant to the chancellor of the exchequer and a director of the Bank of England. He was raised to the peerage in 1942.
Personal life: During his studies at school teachers described Keynes as brilliant, but on occasion, careless and lacking in determination.
In 1925 he married Lydia Lopokova, a well-known Russian ballerina. They had no children.
Under the influence of his friends and wife Lydia Lopokova (ballerina dancer of the Diaghilev Ballet, (1892- 1981), he played an active and important role in the cultural life. Keynes was also a patron of the arts, an advisor to several charitable trusts, a writer, a private investor, an art collector, and even a farmer.
Keynes died of a heart attack at Tilton, on 21 April 1946, at the age of 62 years old.
Remains: Cremated, (ashes scattered on the Downs above Tilton).
Zest: Of towering stature, Keynes stood at 198 cm or six foot, six inches. He had a romantic relationship with the painter Duncan Grant and financially supported him whole his life. Keynes was a firm supporter of women’s rights.
