期刊名称：Discussion Papers / School of Business, University of New South Wales
出版年度：2008
卷号：2008
出版社：Sydney
摘要：The pioneers of dynamic Keynesian economics, Harrod and Kalecki, began with an analysis of the
trade cycle, but are remembered for their contributions to growth theory. Unlike most twentieth century
growth theory, they both had a major focus on disequilibrium situations and an examination of this
aspect of their theory is the purpose of this paper.
Harrod distinguished three stages in his dynamic analysis. The first was the derivation of the
fundamental equation and consequent theorems. Fundamental meant underlying: even apart from
random factors the equation may never hold exactly in real life. In the second stage, detailed analysis
was made of the factors (in addition to the fundamental equation) which have a systematic effect on the
path the economy follows. The final stage is policy prescriptions. Except in his 1936 book on the trade
cycle, Harrod did relatively little “second stage” work but this did not stop him putting forward policy
prescriptions. This three stage structure of analysis contributed to the widespread misunderstanding of
the nature of his fundamental equation leading to a widely accepted view of a Harrod growth model
which was completely different to what Harrod thought he was putting forward.
Kalecki, on the other hand, rejected what Harrod had called “first stage analysis” as being of little
interest. His main criticisms of growth theory were aimed at, what he saw, as the vacuousness of such
theorising. Instead, his work concentrated on second and third stage analysis, that is, in attempting to
understand the non-equilibrium, dynamics of the economy with a view towards policy prescription. For
this reason, Kalecki’s contribution was less open to misunderstanding than was Harrod’s.
