Preface; Introduction; Part I. Intellectual Formation, 1910–1948; 1. Golden boy; 2. Columbia; 3. Hot money; 4. A good war; Part II. International Economist, 1948–1976; 5. Tech; 6. The dollar system; 7. Among economists; Part III. Historical Economist, 1976–2003; 8. Independence; 9. Chef d'oeuvre; 10. Leadership.
A history of international finance as seen through the eyes of Charles P. Kindleberger, one of its keenest observers.
Perry Mehrling is Professor of International Political Economy at Boston University.
'The discipline of economics is balanced, somewhat unsteadily,
between two legs, with the skill of the historian on one side and
of the mathematical modeler on the other. In the second half of the
20th century, the tide flowed strongly to elevate the second leg
and to diminish the first. In this delightful biography of Charlie
Kindleberger, a charming and loveable man, Perry Mehrling shows how
Charlie, in his chosen role, as an international monetary
economist, fought against that tide, often
unsuccessfully. Perry writes so beautifully that one would
only need a smattering of economics to enjoy the tale; while if one
is interested in the history of economic thought in international
monetary economics, then this book is, of course, a must read.'
Charles Goodhart, Centre for Economic Policy Research
'Like many legendary session players who never quite topped the
charts, in his day Charles Kindleberger was revered by those hip
enough to know great work when they saw it. So roll over Friedman
and Samuelson. As Perry Merhling's erudite biography makes clear,
to understand the urgent, real-world economic problems of our time,
set aside the pop hits of yesterday (and today), and reach for
Charlie's enduring, classic contributions.' Jonathan Kirshner,
Boston College
'As a 'literary' economist, Charlie Kindleberger thought he was
professionally behind the times. As an economic historian, however,
he studied financial crises before that became fashionable, and he
practiced experience-based learning well before modern economists
rediscovered it. Mehrling's study shows that Kindleberger in fact
was ahead of, not behind, his times. This is a fine biography of
both a great twentieth-century economist and the U.S. dollar as the
world's premier reserve currency during Kindleberger's long
career.' Richard Sylla, Professor Emeritus of Economics,
New York University
'Perry Mehrling's elegantly written biography of the MIT economist
Charles Poor Kindleberger illuminates the relationship between
money and the global structure of economic and political power.'
Herman Mark Schwartz, phenomenalworld.org
'Mehrling's book … gives such a meticulous and so elegant analysis
of Kindleberger's work that it paints with clear and precise
strokes the life, works, and activities of a man who could be said
to have lived as many as three different lives: first as a
politician, able to influence the process of shaping American
policy, then as an economist expert on the international monetary
system, and finally as a great economic historian. All this always
keeping the functioning and history of money as a central point.'
Albertina Nania, History of Economic Thought and Policy
'This volume offers a sympathetic biography of Kindleberger,
comprising important archival research. The book whets one's
appetite to (re-)read Kindleberger's work.' Ivo Maes, European
Journal of the History of Economic Thought
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