Harvard. Short Bibliography of Economic Theory for Serious-minded Students”, Taussig, 1910

In 1910 Harvard published 43 short bibliographies covering “Social Ethics and Allied Subjects”, about half of which were dedicated to particular topics in economics and economic sociology. The project was apparently coordinated by Plummer Professor of Christian Morals, Francis G. Peabody.

Over the coming weeks, Economics in the Rear-view Mirror will be providing transcriptions to some of these bibliographies along with many links to digital copies of the items found at archive.org, hathitrust.org, as well as at other on-line archives.

We begin with Professor Frank Taussig’s list of eighteen items that he selected for the Economic Theory bibliography, along with his brief comments.

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From the Prefatory Note:

The present list represents an attempt to make this connection between the teaching of the University and a need of the modern world. Each compiler has had in mind, not a superficial reader, nor yet a learned scholar, but an intelligent and serious-minded student, who is willing to read substantial literature if it be commended to him as worth his while and is neither too voluminous nor too inaccessible. To such an inquirer each editor makes suggestions concerning the contents, spirit or doctrine of a book, not attempting a complete description or a final judgment, but as though answering the preliminary question of a student, “What kind of book is this?” The plan thus depends for its usefulness on the competency of the editors concerned, and each editor assumes responsibility for the section to which his name is prefixed.

Source: Prefatory Note by Francis G. Peabody. A Guide to Reading in Social Ethics and Allied Subjects, Lists of Books and Articles Selected and Described for the Use of General Readers. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University, 1910, p. vi.

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2. ECONOMIC THEORY
F. W. TAUSSIG

Adam Smith’s book is a landmark in the history of thought, and justly entitled a classic. But it is not to be read as the one book on economics, if one only can be read; nor is it usually the best book to begin with. Parts are antiquated, parts to be understood only with knowledge of Adam Smith’s times. Yet in attractiveness of style, wealth of matter, epoch-making significance, its equal has not been written.

A classic, like Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations”; like that, superseded in parts, yet a noble book, with dignity of style and large views, addressed to the mature, warm in its social sympathies, severe in its reasoning; a good book to begin with, though to be supplemented with others more modern.

Probably the most important book on economic theory published in English since J. S. Mill’s “Principles”; able, penetrating, stimulating. It is not easy reading, but repays careful study. The whole subject of economics is not covered; chiefly Value and Distribution, the parts of economic theory having most bearing on social questions.

A brilliant volume by an American scholar, abstract in character, setting forth in attractive style a theory of distribution according to the specific product of each of the factors in production. Its conclusions have been disputed, but the originality and interest of the reasoning are not to be denied.

A compact, clear, able statement of modern doctrines, with an introductory chapter on the principles of value.

A book of the first importance, the starting point for the modern discussion of capital and interest; covering also the so called “Austrian” theory of value. The exposition is deliberate and full; the reasoning not always easy to follow, but always deserving careful study.

These two volumes present theories in some respects novel, but consistently maintained throughout. The first gives the author’s conception of capital and income; the second, his analysis of the causes determining the rate of interest. They form a good supplement to Böhm-Bawerk’s “Positive Theory.” Like that, they test the reader’s attention and powers of reasoning.

A remarkable survey of economics from the historical point of view; encyclopedic in its range, with admirable sketches of the great lines of industrial development and of present conditions, and broad-minded discussion of current social and economic problems.

A recent French manual, clearly written, ably thought out, a good representative of modern thought.

A German treatise, much used, of the kind meant for university students, covering the whole subject, eclectic in its views and mode of treatment.

These three are modern text-books, addressed to persons of the grade of college students, with special regard to American conditions. The two mentioned first are clearer and better reasoned than the third, which, however, contains a mass of information and has full and well-chosen lists of references.

These are shorter text-books, of a somewhat more elementary character than the three mentioned before. They have the apparatus of questions expected in a high-school text-book, as well as references and brief bibliographies. The first two are more concrete and informational; the third (Johnson’s) is more abstract and general, but not less satisfactory in its mode of exposition.

This gives a condensed statement of the doctrines of the same author’s larger book (see above), arranged with a view to use by students. It does not cover the whole subject, but only the range of topics treated in the larger book.

Source: Teachers in Harvard University, A Guide to Reading in Social Ethics and Allied Subjects, Lists of Books and Articles Selected and Described for the Use of General Readers. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University, 1910, pp. 6-9.

Image Source: Frank Taussig in Harvard Album 1915.