Michal Kalecki, 1899-1970.

Photo of M.Kalecki

In his lifetime, Kalecki was one of the unsung heroes of macroeconomics - and a potent lesson in why, in economics, one should always publish in English. Although Kalecki claimed to have anticipated much of the principles stated in Keynes's General Theory, his articles (1933, 1935) were published in Polish and French and thus went unrecognized. Attempting to rectify this, Kalecki decided to publish a claim of precendence to Keynes in a 1936 article... but in Polish again!

His work in English, notably on business cycles (1935, 1937, 1939, 1943, 1954), however, introduced him in his own stead and was notable in its advancement of the use of mathematical dynamics in economics. His work also incorporated several Classical and Marxian concepts, relying to a good extent on "class conflict", income distribution and imperfect competition - items which would inspire the Cambridge Keynesians - particularly Robinson, Kaldor and Goodwin - as well as modern American Post Keynesian economics.

Kalecki worked at the Institute of Business Cycles and Prices in Warsaw for much of his life.

Major Works of Michal Kalecki

Resources on Michal Kalecki

 


Home Alphabetical Index Schools of Thought  Surveys and Essays
Web Links References Contact Frames