John Hicks

His Contributions to Economic Theory and Application

Economist Sir John Hicks was the first British economist to win the Nobel Prize in Economic Science (1972) for his wide ranging contributions in general and his book Value and Capital in particular. Value and Capital showed that the basic results of consumer theory could be obtained from statistical usage; it expounded what became known as the "Hicksian substitution effect." K. Puttaswamaiah describes Hicks as a brilliant economist without whose effort present-day economies would not have grown in such dimension by now and Value and Capital as a work that revolutionized the science of economics. John Hicks is a unique collection of essays that examine Hicks through personal recollections as well as critiques and analyses of his work. For this very special volume, K. Puttaswamaiah has gathered 25 contributors. Some were friends, colleagues, and students of Hicks. All are eminent in their own areas of Hicks' work. Their articles depict various aspects of the economist's thought and personality, some depicting him in a new light. "My John Hicks," by Paul A. Samuelson identifies the landmarks in Hicks' life. Colin Simkin's "John and Ursula Hicks-A Personal Recollection" gives a vivid account of the economist's inner life. O.F. Hamouda's essay, "Hicks, A World Economist" presents a scholarly and comprehensive analysis of Hicks' economics. In "Hicks and Economic Theory," Frank Kahn sets out his own views on the major works of Hicks. Harald Hagerman distinguishes between the works of Hicks and Hayek in "Monetary Causes of the Business Cycles and Technological Changes: Hicks vs. Hayek." Axel Lejonhufvud presents a memoriam on the life and works of Hicks. The other authors have chosen different areas of Hicks' works-sometimes focusing on a single work and giving a vivid account of their own thoughts on the area chosen. This volume will interest economists and students who are concerned with Hicks' works in relation to earlier thinkers and present-day economic theory. K. Puttaswamaiah is the senior director, Planning Department, Government of Karnataka State, India. He has written or edited fourteen books. He is the founding editor of the Indian (now International) Journal of Applied Economics & Econometrics.