An Economic Spurt that Failed: Four Lectures in Austrian History (Eliot Janeway Lectures on Historical Economics) - Hardcover

Gerschenkron, Alexander

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0691042160 ISBN 13: 9780691042169

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 1977

Synopsis

In 1900 the newly appointed Austrian prime minister, Ernest von Koerber, initiated a novel program of economic development designed to solve the political and economic problems of the Habsburg Monarchy. Ambitious and ingenious as the plan was, it proved a failure, and in this book Alexander Gerschenkron assesses its career and significance for both Austrian and European history.

The author explains the importance of Koerber's experiment as a way of increasing Austria's economic strength while drawing the country out of divisive political struggles. He ascribes its failure primarily to the obstructionist tactics of Eugen von Boehin-Bawerk, the famous economist, who headed the Austrian Ministry of Finance. In describing the experiment's brief but striking success, Professor Gerschenkron challenges the widespread belief among scholars that disintegrating nationalist forces were irresistible.

Originally published in 1977.

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About this title

About the Author

The late Alexander Gerschenkron held a degree of Doctor Rerum Politicarum from the University of Vienna. He was Chief of the Foreign Areas Section at the Federal Reserve Board, as well as Walter S. Barker Professor of Economics and Director of the Economic History Workshop, Harvard University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 1977
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0691042160
• ISBN 13: 9780691042169
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 184