Radical Origins to Economic Crises: Germán Bernácer, a Visionary Precursor

ISBN-13: 9783319933658 / Angielski / Twarda / 2018 / 447 str.

Henri Savall

Opis

This book presents the complete and pioneering works of the great Spanish economist, GermanBernacer (1883-1965), to an English audience for the first time. Bernacer, the first director ofthe Research Service of the Bank of Spain (1930-55), inspired Keynes' theory but was also amajor critic and opponent of it. A macroeconomist by trade, Bernacer's major theory related torecurring crises, which he believed were inherent in the existence of speculative markets such asproperty, works of art, long term currency markets, commercial trading, materials, and energy.Bernacer believed that these speculative markets generate unearned income and hoarding,they abound in financial capital and, when such capital is captured, it then lacks in productionindustries where real value is created, draining their financing. The author shows how historyhas repeated itself in this manner in 1929, 2007, 2008, 2014 and 2016. The author derives his content from Bernacer's Spanish publications and his privatecorrespondence with his contemporary economists, providing an historical and thematic insightinto his thinking. It is well-timed to contribute to current worldwide debates on monetary,fi nancial and budgetary policies needed to implement an economic order that can restoreeconomic stability, providing readers with rare and important insights into the deep roots of crises. The book will be of interest to all readers interested in the history of economic thought, historyof financial crises, Keynesian approaches to economics and criticism to Keynesian approaches.

Spis treści

PART I - A PRE-KEYNES FOUNDER OF MODERNECONOMICS: GERMÁN BERNÁCER

CHAPTER 1 - WHY PUBLISH THIS WORK ON GERMÁN BERNÁCER, THE GREAT PIONEERING SPANISH ECONOMIST, NOW?

CHAPTER 2 - BIOGRAPHY AND TESTIMONIES

PART II - CRISIS AND UNEMPLOYMENT THEORY

CHAPTER 3 - BERNÁCER’S CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ACTUAL CAPITALISM: "A FREE ECONOMY WITHOUT CRISIS AND WITHOUT UNEMPLOYMENT"

CHAPTER 4 - MONETARY FACTORS OF CRISIS: HOARDING versus. INVESTMENT, INFLATION AND DEFLATION

CHAPTER 5 - THE INTEREST RATE AS A FACTOR OF INSTABILITY AND CRISES

CHAPTER 6 - IMPROVING CAPITALISM THROUGH FREEDOM, ETHICS AND EFFICIENCY

CONCLUSION: ADVOCACY FOR BERNÁCER’S REHABILITATION

O autorze

Henri Savall is Emeritus Professor at University Jean Moulin Lyon 3, France and Founding President for the Socio-Economic Institute of Firms and Organizations (ISEOR).

Blurb

This book presents the complete and pioneering works of the great Spanish economist, Germán

Bernácer (1883-1965), to an English audience for the first time. Bernácer, the first director of

the Research Service of the Bank of Spain (1930–55), inspired Keynes’ theory but was also a

major critic and opponent of it. A macroeconomist by trade, Bernácer’s major theory related to

recurring crises, which he believed were inherent in the existence of speculative markets such as

property, works of art, long term currency markets, commercial trading, materials, and energy.

Bernácer believed that these speculative markets generate unearned income and hoarding,

they abound in financial capital and, when such capital is captured, it then lacks in production

industries where real value is created, draining their financing. The author shows how history

has repeated itself in this manner in 1929, 2007, 2008, 2014 and 2016.

The author derives his content from Bernácer’s Spanish publications and his private

correspondence with his contemporary economists, providing an historical and thematic insight

into his thinking. It is well-timed to contribute to current worldwide debates on monetary,

fi nancial and budgetary policies needed to implement an economic order that can restore

economic stability, providing readers with rare and important insights into the deep roots of crises.

The book will be of interest to all readers interested in the history of economic thought, history

of financial crises, Keynesian approaches to economics and criticism to Keynesian approaches.