Two Views on Development: Austin and Joan Robinson
Author(s)
Harcourt, G. C.
Abstract
The article is based on the 1996 Kingsley Martin Memorial Lecture at Cambridge. The contributions of Austin and Joan Robinson to development economics are described, compared, and assessed. Both are shown to have been deeply concerned about the human problems associated with a lack of development, especially in India, Africa and, in Joan’s case, China. Austin wrote far more on the problems, his work was much more concrete and applied, though he always had clear models in his head. Joan was more concerned with concepts and specific theoretical models. Austin always wanted to find orders of magnitude and make projections, as well as prescribe specific policies. Both were keen observers of particular scenes. Their often astute comments were filtered through constraints associated with the authors’ time, upbringing and experience.
