Measurement and Meaning in Economics

The Essential Deirdre McCloskey

Economists of the Twentieth Century series

Deirdre N. McCloskey, UIC Distinguished Professor of Economics, History and English, University of Illinois, Chicago, US and Tinbergen Professor of Economics, Philosophy, Art and Cultural Studies, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Edited and with an introduction by Stephen Thomas Ziliak, Associate Professor of Economics, School of Policy Studies, Roosevelt University, US

This essential book collects together, for the first time, the writings of Deirdre McCloskey on economic history and the rhetoric of economics. The essays have been presented to show McCloskey’s evolution over time: from economist to critic, positivist to postmodernist, conventional economist to feminist economist, man to woman. Measurement and Meaning in Economics allows the reader to experience an astonishing personal and intellectual journey with one of today’s most fascinating economists.

‘. . . for those who have not read McCloskey . . . I would strenuously urge their attention. They will find a very bright, imaginative mind at work, writing in an engaging, vigorous style. She provides a good test of our understanding of neoclassical theory and, for those of a different persuasion, an even better test of our ability to critically evaluate that theory. Moreover, she’s certainly not above taking her fellow neoclassical theoreticians to task for various shortcomings . . . I would recommend reading these essays . . . she is always imaginative, provocative, perceptive. And perhaps most important, she’s entertaining – though with a serious purpose. And that cannot be said of very many of our tribe.’
– John F. Henry, History of Economics Review