Difference between revisions of "Stockholm school (economics)" - New World Encyclopedia

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The '''Stockholm school''', or ''Stockholmsskolan'', is a school of [[History of economic thought|economic thought]]. It refers to a loosely organized group of Swedish [[economist]]s that worked together, in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]] primarily in the 1930s.
 
  
The main members were [[Gunnar Myrdal]] and [[Bertil Ohlin]], who both received the [[Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel|Nobel Prize for Economics]]. Although their ideas were novel in the 1930s, the school never focused on publicizing their work and the members were later scattered. Myrdal spent many years in the U.S. working on what eventually led to the book ''An American Dilemma'', a major investigation of the situation of [[African American]]s. Ohlin became the Swedish [[Liberal People's Party (Sweden)|opposition leader]] for over twenty years, battling the incumbent [[Socialdemokratiska arbetarpartiet|Social Democrat]] [[Government of Sweden|government]]. Other members, such as [[Erik Lundberg]], continued as business cycle oriented economists.
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[[Image:Wicksell2.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Knut Wicksell]], Swedish economist. Important source of inspiration for [[John Maynard Keynes]] and the Stockholm school.]]
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The '''Stockholm school''', or ''Stockholmsskolan'', is a school of [[History of economic thought|economic thought]]. It refers to a loosely organized group of Swedish [[economist]]s that worked together, in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]] primarily in the 1930s. Stockholm school had at the same time as [[John Maynard Keynes]] but independently came to the same conclusions on the [[Macro economics]]  and the theories of [[Demand]] and [[Supply]]. They like Keynes, were inspired by the works of [[Knut Wicksell]], a Swedish economist at the turn of the century 1900.  
  
{{Credits|Stockholm_school_(economics)|152316720|}}
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Two of the most prominent members of the Stockholm school were [[Stockholm School of Economics]] professors [[Gunnar Myrdal]] and [[Bertil Ohlin]]. The movements name, "the Stockholm school," was launched in an article by Bertil Ohlin in the influential ''Economic Journal'' in 1937. The article was published in response to the publication of [[Maynard Keynes]]' ''magnum opus'' ''[[General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money]]'' in 1936, and its purpose was to draw international attention to the Swedish discoveries in the field, many of which had predated Keyneses discoveries.
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Myrdal and Ohlin went on to further develop their theories, and in so doing they developed the intellectual underpinnings and theoretical basis of the modern [[Northern Europe]]an [[welfare state]]. Their theories were embraced and implemented as national policy by the two powerful arms of the Swedish labor movement; the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] and the national labor union the [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation]]. In the post-[[World War II]] geopolitical situation with two rival predatory political blocks, their theories also got wide international appeal as a "third way," i.e. a middle way between a capitalist economy and a socialist economy. The objective of the "third way" being to achieve high levels of social equality, without stifling private entrepreneurship.
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== Leading members ==
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[[Image:Dag Hammarskjold.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Swedish economist [[Dag Hammarskjöld]] was an unusually active UN Secretary-General from 1953 to his death in 1961. Hammarskjöld acted as a mediator during the [[Suez Crisis]] and the 1960 capture of a US reconnaissance plane by the USSR. He also established the [[United Nations Emergency Force|first UN peacekeeping force]].]]
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*The [[Stockholm School of Economics]], and later [[Stockholm University]], professor [[Gunnar Myrdal]] spent many years in the U.S. working the book ''[[An American Dilemma]]: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy'', an investigation into the situation of [[African American]]s, funded by the [[Carnegie Foundation]]. Gunnar Myrdal co-authored together with his wife [[Alva Myrdal]] the book ''Kris i befolkningsfrågan'' ([[Swedish language|Swedish]] for 'Crisis in the population issue'), published in 1934. The book served as a major source of inspiration for the construction of the modern Swedish [[welfare state]], relying heavily on [[government]] intervention and [[social engineering]] to create a "people's home" (Swedish: "Folkhemmet"). The work has later been critized for its discussions on racial issues. Myrdal received the [[Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel]] (also known as the "Nobel Prize for Economics") in 1974.
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*The [[Stockholm School of Economics]] professor [[Bertil Ohlin]] was party leader of the Swedish [[Liberal People's Party (Sweden)]], the largest opposition party in the Swedish Parliament, for over twenty years (1944-1967), battling the powerful incumbent [[Socialdemokratiska arbetarpartiet|Social Democrat]] [[Government of Sweden|government]]. Professor Ohlin developed, together with professor [[Eli Heckscher]], the world-wide standard economic model of international trade, the ''[[Heckscher-Ohlin theory]]''. Ohlin received the [[Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel]] (also known as the "Nobel Prize for Economics") in 1977.
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*[[Gustav Cassel]], professor of economics at the [[Stockholm University]], created the standard mathematical formula for [[Purchasing Power Parity]], a central theory in [[microeconomics]].
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*[[Dag Hammarskjöld]], economist. 2nd [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]]. In office 10 April 1953 – 18 September 1961 (when he died in a plane crash on a peace keeping mission to [[Kongo]]). Dag Hammarskjöld is the only person to have been awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] posthumously ([[Alfred Nobel]]'s [[testament]] explicitely states that the prize should only be awarded to the living).
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Other members, such as [[Erik Lundberg]], continued as [[business cycle]] oriented economists.
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==References==
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*{{cite journal |last=Patinkin |first=Don |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1978 |month= |title=On the Relation between Keynesian Economics and the ‘Stockholm School’ |journal=The Scandinavian Journal of Economics |volume=80 |issue=2 |pages=135–143 |doi=10.2307/3439878 |url= |accessdate= |quote= }}
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{{Credits|Stockholm_school_(economics)|253084390|}}

Revision as of 00:32, 7 December 2008

Schools of economics

History of economic thought

Pre-modern

Early economic thought

Early Modern

Mercantilism · Physiocrats

Modern

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English historical school · German historical school
Socialist economics · Neoclassical economics
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Twentieth-century

Institutional economics · Stockholm school
Keynesian economics · Chicago school


Knut Wicksell, Swedish economist. Important source of inspiration for John Maynard Keynes and the Stockholm school.

The Stockholm school, or Stockholmsskolan, is a school of economic thought. It refers to a loosely organized group of Swedish economists that worked together, in Stockholm, Sweden primarily in the 1930s. Stockholm school had at the same time as John Maynard Keynes but independently came to the same conclusions on the Macro economics and the theories of Demand and Supply. They like Keynes, were inspired by the works of Knut Wicksell, a Swedish economist at the turn of the century 1900.

Two of the most prominent members of the Stockholm school were Stockholm School of Economics professors Gunnar Myrdal and Bertil Ohlin. The movements name, "the Stockholm school," was launched in an article by Bertil Ohlin in the influential Economic Journal in 1937. The article was published in response to the publication of Maynard Keynes' magnum opus General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money in 1936, and its purpose was to draw international attention to the Swedish discoveries in the field, many of which had predated Keyneses discoveries.

Myrdal and Ohlin went on to further develop their theories, and in so doing they developed the intellectual underpinnings and theoretical basis of the modern Northern European welfare state. Their theories were embraced and implemented as national policy by the two powerful arms of the Swedish labor movement; the Swedish Social Democratic Party and the national labor union the Swedish Trade Union Confederation. In the post-World War II geopolitical situation with two rival predatory political blocks, their theories also got wide international appeal as a "third way," i.e. a middle way between a capitalist economy and a socialist economy. The objective of the "third way" being to achieve high levels of social equality, without stifling private entrepreneurship.

Leading members

File:Dag Hammarskjold.jpg
Swedish economist Dag Hammarskjöld was an unusually active UN Secretary-General from 1953 to his death in 1961. Hammarskjöld acted as a mediator during the Suez Crisis and the 1960 capture of a US reconnaissance plane by the USSR. He also established the first UN peacekeeping force.
  • The Stockholm School of Economics, and later Stockholm University, professor Gunnar Myrdal spent many years in the U.S. working the book An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy, an investigation into the situation of African Americans, funded by the Carnegie Foundation. Gunnar Myrdal co-authored together with his wife Alva Myrdal the book Kris i befolkningsfrågan (Swedish for 'Crisis in the population issue'), published in 1934. The book served as a major source of inspiration for the construction of the modern Swedish welfare state, relying heavily on government intervention and social engineering to create a "people's home" (Swedish: "Folkhemmet"). The work has later been critized for its discussions on racial issues. Myrdal received the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (also known as the "Nobel Prize for Economics") in 1974.
  • Gustav Cassel, professor of economics at the Stockholm University, created the standard mathematical formula for Purchasing Power Parity, a central theory in microeconomics.
  • Dag Hammarskjöld, economist. 2nd Secretary-General of the United Nations. In office 10 April 1953 – 18 September 1961 (when he died in a plane crash on a peace keeping mission to Kongo). Dag Hammarskjöld is the only person to have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize posthumously (Alfred Nobel's testament explicitely states that the prize should only be awarded to the living).

Other members, such as Erik Lundberg, continued as business cycle oriented economists.


References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Patinkin, Don (1978). On the Relation between Keynesian Economics and the ‘Stockholm School’. The Scandinavian Journal of Economics 80 (2): 135–143.


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