Joan Robinson and economic theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13133/2037-3643/10789Keywords:
Joan Robinson, distribution of income, imperfect competition, employment, capital, productionAbstract
Joan Robinson’s interest in the question of the distribution of income and her disdain for what she considered to be theories that tried to justify existing distributions of income never flagged. Her work is marked by a strong inclination for clear, well reasoned arguments that left no room for sloppy habits of thought. The wide scope and quantity of Robinson’s writings make it difficult to present a critical evaluation of her contributions within the context of even a lengthy paper. The present one concentrates on her writings in five main areas: (i) the economics of imperfect competition; (ii) the theory of employment; (iii) the theory of accumulation in the long run; (iv) the concept of capital and the production function; and (v) the problem of time in economics as reflected in her writings on the theme history versus equilibrium.
JEL: B31, E24
References
ASIMAKOPULOS, A. (1970), "A Robinsonian Growth Mode! in One-Seetor Notation ~ An
Amendment", Australian EconomicPapers, 9, December, 171-6.
ASIMAKOPULOS, A. (1976), "Post-Keynesian Growth Theory" in S. Weintraub (ed.), Modern
Economie Thought, University ofPennsylvania Press, Philadelphia.
ASIMAKOPULOS, A. (1982), "Keynes' TheolY of Effeetive Demand Revisited", Australian Economie
Papers, 21,June, 18-36.
BRUS, W. and KOWALIK, T. (1983), "Socialism and Deve!oprnent", Cambridge Journal 01
Economies, 7, September-Deeember, 243-55.
CHAMBERLIN, E.H. (1948), The Theory ofMonopolistic Competition, 6th edn., Harvard University
Press, Cambridge.
GAREGNANI, P. (1976), "On a Change in the Notion ofEquilibrium in ~ecent Work on. Value and
Distribution", in M. Brown, K. Sato, P. Zarembka (OOs.), Essays If1 Modern CapItaI Theory,
North Holland, Amsterdam.
GAREGNANI, P. (1979), "Notes on Cansumption, Investment and Effective Demand: II'', and "A
Reply to Jaan Robinson", Cambridge Journal ofEconomics, 3, 63-82 and 181-87.
HARCOURT, G.c. (1972), Some Cambndge Controversies in the Theory 01 Capital, Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge.
HARROD, R.F. (1939), "An Essay in Dyriamie Theory", EconomieJoumal, 49, March, 14-33.
-HARROD, R.F. (1948), Towardsa Dynamic Economics, Macmillan, Landan.
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro ]oan Robinson and Economie Theory 409
HARROD, R.F. (1970), "Barrod after Twenty"one Years: A Comment", Economie Joumal, 8,
September, 737-41.
KALECKI, M. (1943), Studies in Economie Dynamics, Allen & Unwin, Landoo.
KALECKI, M. (1971), Selected Essays on tbc Dynamics 01 the Capitalist Economy, 1933-1970,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
KEYNES,}.M. (1936), The GeneraI Theory ofEmployment, Interest andMoney, Maunillan, Landan.
KEYNES, J,M. (1973a), The General Theory and A/ter: Part 1 Prepara/ion, edited by Donald
Moggridge, VoI. XIII af the Callected Writings, Macmillan far the Roya! Economie Society,
Landan.
KEYNES, J,M. (1973b), The Genera! Theary andA/ter: Part II Defence and Development, edited by
Donald Moggridge, VoI. XIV aE the Collected Writings, Macmillan far the Roya! Economie
Society, London.
KREGEL, JA. (1976), "Economie Methodology in the Face ai Uncertainty: the Modelling Methods
ofKeynes and Post-Keyne$ians", EconomieJournal, 86, lune, 209-25.
KREGEL, ].A. (1983), "The Microfollildations of the 'Generalization of The Generai Theory' and
'Bastard Keynesianism': Keynes's Theory of Employment in the Long and 5hort Period",
Cambndge Journal oIEeonomt'cs, 7, September-December, 331-42.
MARSHALL, ALFRED (1920), Prindples ofEeonomies, 8th edn., Maonillan, Landon.
ROBINSON, JOAN (1933), The Economics oflmperfeet Competition~ Macmillan, Landon.
ROBINSON, JOAN (1937a), Essays in the Theory ofEmployment, Macmillan, Landon.
ROBINSON, J OAN (193 7b), Introduetion to the l'heory 01Employment, Macrnillan, Landon.
ROEINSON, ]OAN (1937-8), "The Classification of Inventions", Review of Economie Studies, 5,
-42.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1942), An Essay on Marxian Economics, Maonillan, Landon.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1956), The Aecumulation ofCapital, Macrnillan, London.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1960a), Colleeted Economie PaperscVolume II, Basil Blackwell, Oxford.
ROBINSON, JOAN (1960b), Exercises in Economie Analysis, Macmillan, London.
ROBINSON,]OAN (1962), Essays in the Theory ofEconomie Growth, Macmillan, Landon.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1963), Economie Philosophy, Aldine Publishing, Chicago.
ROBINSON,JOAN (1965), ColleetedEeonomiePapers, Volume III, BasilB1ackwell, Oxford.
ROBINSON, JOAN (1969a), The Economics oflmper/ect Competition, 2nd edn., Macmillan, Landon.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1969b), Introduction to the Theory 01 Employment, 2nd edn., Macrnillan,
London.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1970), Freedom and Necessity, Allen & Unwin, Landon.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1971), Economic Heresies, Basic Books, New York.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1973), Collected Economie Papers Volume N, Basil Blackwell, Oxford.
ROBINSON, JOAN (1974), "History versus Equilibrium", Thames Papers in Political Economy,
reprinted in ROBINSON 1980, 48-58.
ROBINSON', JOAN (1975a), "Introduction 1974" to Colleeted Economie Papers Volume II, 2nd edn.,
Basil Blackwell, Oxford.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1975b), "lntroduction 1974" to Collected Economie Papers Volume III, 2nd ed.n.,
Basi! Blackwell, Oxford.
ROBINSON, JOAN (1975c), "Tbe Unimportance of Reswitching" and "Reswitching: Reply",
Quarterly Joumal ojEeonomics 89, 32-39 and53-55.
ROBINSON, JOAN (1978a), Contributions to Modem Eeonomics, Basi! Blackwell, Oxford.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1978b), "Keynes lmd Ricardo", Joumal 01 Post Keynesian Economics, l, Fali,
-18.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1979a), "Misllilderstandings in the Theory of Procluction", Gl'eek Economie
Review, 1, August, 1-7.
ROBlNSON, JOAN (1979b), "Garegnani on Effective Demand", Cambridge Journal ofEconomies, 3,
-80.
ROBINSON, ]OAN (1980), Colleeted Economic Papers Volume V, Basil Blackwell, Oxford.
SA1'v1UELSON, PAVL A. (1966), "A Summing Dp", Quarterly }oumal ofEconomies, 80, Navember,
-83.
HACKLE, G.L.5. (1967), The Years olHigh Theory, Cambridge Dniversity Press, Cambridge.
SRAFFA, PIERO (1926), "The Laws af Returns Under Competitive Conditians", Economie Joumal,
, December, 535-50.
SRAFFA, PIERO (1960), Pl'oduction olCommodities by Means olCommodities, Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge.