Donate Today

Alternative Schools of Economic Thought

Originally published in International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, Second Edition

This article examines the path of mainstream economics during the twentieth century and the challenges presented to the mainstream by various alternative schools of economic thinking, such as the desire for relevance of American institutional economics, the emphasis on market process and calculation given by Austrian economics, the role of gendered theorizing examined by feminist economics, and the treatment of uncertainty offered by post-Keynesian Economics.

Chapter Summary

Alternative schools of economic thought are defined relative to the current mainstream of economic theory. This article examines the path of mainstream economics during the twentieth century and the challenges presented to the mainstream by various alternative schools of economic thinking, such as the desire for relevance of American institutional economics, the emphasis on market process and calculation given by Austrian economics, the role of gendered theorizing examined by feminist economics, and the treatment of uncertainty offered by post-Keynesian Economics.

Encyclopedia Summary

Fully revised and updated, the second edition of the International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences, first published in 2001, offers a source of social and behavioral sciences reference material that is broader and deeper than any other. Available in both print and online editions, it comprises over 3,900 articles, commissioned by 71 Section Editors, and includes 90,000 bibliographic references as well as comprehensive name and subject indexes.

Purchase from Amazon.com. 

To speak with a scholar or learn more on this topic, visit our contact page.