Modern Macroeconomics: Its Origins, Development and Current State

This is a great summary of the evolution of macroeconomic thought since Keynes, as well as a good explantion of their fundamentals and issues.All major schools are impartially approached in a textbook fasion, followed by well-conducted interviews with leading economists of each school, such as Tobin (orthodox keynesians), Friedman (monetarists), Lucas (new classicals), Prescott (RBC), just to mention a few. Some schools out of the mainstream are also approached, with lower bright though (austrians and post-keynesians).The book is a great companion for intermediate undergrads: in addition to provide a historical perspective, it equips readers of intermedate popular textbooks to shed different lights on issues and models presented as 'official truths' - such books rarely leave room for alternative approaches, debates, or criticisms between schools (Froyen's is a great exception, along with Mankiw to a minor extent).The only flaw is the shallow coverage of schools not-aligned with mainstram, such as those aforementioned ones, or full omission of some (such as evolutionary / neo-schumpeterian and other hetherodoxes). PKs and Austrians deserved shorter texts, though presented by iminent shcholars from those schools, but had no interview - therefore restricting a better comprehension, as such 'live talks' with prominent authorities of each is what 'gives soul' to their claims (it works like a diligent defense of their approaches, persuasively enriching the reading, as they explain, criticize, support, compare, etc).In sum, a book like no other in account for the richness of macroeconomic thought, to be extended for alternative approaches - if split in two volumes as it will become almost encyclopedical, the expense of further costs will certainly pay off the broader and eccletic coverage to be provided.

This is undoubtedly the best book for an advanced introduction to Macroeconomics at graduate level, before one takes up more technical macro/growth theory books like Romer, Obsfield or Barro etc. It approaches the subject 'macro school' wise, ie by taking a historical and chronological methodology which makes the subject much more interesting, providing a clear conceptual background of the development of macroeconomics as a separate field in past 70-80 years. Starting from Keynes, it discusses all the major development, concepts, theory, models and their interrelationships in macroeconomics today including the recent spurt in growth theory analysis.It is a must read not only for any budding economists but also for well informed general readers interested in economics as a whole.

If you are interested in the essence of economic schools of thoughts, this is the book to get.There are many macroeconomics books that teaches what the mainstream macroeconomcs is. This book tells you how the each school is different from others. I would say one should have read or studied ordinary macroeconomics book before reading this book though.It is not math heavy and only requires macroeconomic 101 knowledge to read through. There are not many books that explains economic thoughts by school and Snowdon does it superbly.

It is like new and the price is worthy.

very nice book~

Nice book, organizes the macroeconomic development on the 20th century. Good interviews in the end of each chapter, with great economists.

All good, as expected.

This book is not easy to find at any price. The price was great and delivery was prompt. Great service.

Having used this book for a 2nd-year macroeconomics course, I found this very comprehensive, but easily understandable guide based on two things:1) Methodology2) chronological order of the Macroeconomic schools of thoughtThe authors first lay out the conditions for the school/ creator's ideas, i.e. Keynesianism based on the great depression. Then they give the principal body analysis through various illustrations like graphs, formulae, citations etc. Towards the end, they provide policy implications/conclusion that helps evaluate each of creator's assessment of the economy.What I like the most is that they refer to previous macroeconomic theorists work in each chapter to give rationale as to how those theorists tried to answers critiques/questions left by their predecessors. For instance, New Keynesians came about to refute New Classical statements and add more depth to earlier Keynesian thoughts by implementing price/wage stickiness and microfoundations respectively.Altogether, this isn't a standard economics textbook that gives a set of exercise questions for review (a weakness perhaps in not being concise), but anecdotally explains concepts to try and make the readers think in the theorist's space rather than memorise standard theory. If you are willing to read >30 pages per chapter, patience will reward you for understanding fundamentals of policy implications within economic schools of thought. Otherwise, Carlin and Soskice (2015) may be a safer bet for a more theory/case study approach.

an easy read and great for getting an understanding of theories, this was my go to book during uni.

a staple! thanks

thank you...it gives all the aspects of all the modern systems and schools, starting from early Classical System and Keynesian System up until today's macroeconomic schools...

Great book!