'The Fiscal Policy Seminar: Its Early Stages' by Richard A. Musgrave

Forthcoming, Research in the History of Economic Thought and Methodology

22 Pages Posted: 29 May 2019

See all articles by Maxime Desmarais-Tremblay

Maxime Desmarais-Tremblay

Université de Lorraine; Centre Walras-Pareto, Université de Lausanne

Marianne Johnson

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh - Department of Economics

Date Written: April 26, 2019

Abstract

Alvin Hansen and John Williams’ Fiscal Policy Seminar at Harvard University is widely regarded as a key mechanism for the spread of Keynesianism in the United States. An original and regular participant, Richard A. Musgrave was invited to prepare remarks for the 50th anniversary of the seminar in 1988. These were never published, though a copy was filed with Musgrave’s papers at Princeton University. Their reproduction here is important for several reasons. First, it is one of the last reminiscences of the original participants. Second, the remarks make an important contribution to our understanding of the Harvard School of macro-fiscal policy. Third, the remarks provide interesting insights into Musgrave’s views on national economic policy making as well as the intersection between theory and practice. The reminiscence demonstrates the importance of the seminar in shifting Musgrave’s research focus and moving him to a more pragmatic approach to public finance.

Keywords: Richard A. Musgrave, Alvin Hansen, Harvard University, Fiscal Policy

JEL Classification: B22, B40, B30, H39, E62

Suggested Citation

Desmarais-Tremblay, Maxime and Johnson, Marianne, 'The Fiscal Policy Seminar: Its Early Stages' by Richard A. Musgrave (April 26, 2019). Forthcoming, Research in the History of Economic Thought and Methodology, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3390395

Maxime Desmarais-Tremblay (Contact Author)

Université de Lorraine ( email )

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Centre Walras-Pareto, Université de Lausanne ( email )

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Marianne Johnson

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh - Department of Economics ( email )

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