John Kenneth Galbraith

this weekend saw the passing of one of the greatest political economists of all-time. the best of the obits that i've seen comes from the times, though i think it's simplistic and minimalizes how influential and genius galbraith really was. the best overall review of galbraith's importance -- and the scope of his work -- comes from brad delong, an economist at berkeley.

i have to say that, for myself, galbraith piqued my interest in political economy. i always knew that my liberal beliefs were more than simply a compassion of the heart -- but i could never fully grasp how the economics of liberalism worked. my mind, unfortunately, is not cut out for full-on economic analysis. that's why galbraith spoke to me. picking up my dad's old copy of 'the affluent society', i was suddenly able to understand why liberal economics is the ascendant form of economic organization (despite this country's recent foray into supply-side idiocy).

read brad delong's review of galbraith. then, if you have time, read 'the affluent society' and its follow-up, 'the good society'.

seriously bitches, galbraith should be considered the most influential economist in american history.