Marian Bowley
Encyclopedia
Marian Bowley was an economist and historian of economic thought. She was the daughter of the economist and statistician Arthur Bowley.
After her BSc and PhD (1936) at the London School of Economics
she was first appointed to a lectureship at the Dundee School of Economics in 1938. After government service during World War II she was appointed to a lectureship at University College, London in 1947, and became successively Reader and Professor of Economics. She retired in 1975.
Her main contributions were in the field of the history of economic thought
. Her 1937 study on Nassau Senior, Nassau Senior and Classical Economics is to date the most important source on this relatively forgotten and often misunderstood member of the Classical school
. She suggests that there were actually two different strands of value theory in Classical economics: one based on the labour theory of value as propagated by the Ricardians
, and a subjective approach espoused by Lauderdale
, Senior and others. In the collection of studies that was published in 1973, she appears to have moved to the position that both sides had actually more common features than she had previously thought.
Apart from her work in the history of economics, Marian Bowley also made important contributions to the understanding of the building industries.
After her BSc and PhD (1936) at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
she was first appointed to a lectureship at the Dundee School of Economics in 1938. After government service during World War II she was appointed to a lectureship at University College, London in 1947, and became successively Reader and Professor of Economics. She retired in 1975.
Her main contributions were in the field of the history of economic thought
History of economic thought
The history of economic thought deals with different thinkers and theories in the subject that became political economy and economics from the ancient world to the present day...
. Her 1937 study on Nassau Senior, Nassau Senior and Classical Economics is to date the most important source on this relatively forgotten and often misunderstood member of the Classical school
Classical economics
Classical economics is widely regarded as the first modern school of economic thought. Its major developers include Adam Smith, Jean-Baptiste Say, David Ricardo, Thomas Malthus and John Stuart Mill....
. She suggests that there were actually two different strands of value theory in Classical economics: one based on the labour theory of value as propagated by the Ricardians
Ricardo
Ricardo is the Portuguese and Spanish cognate of the name Richard. Therefore the name means "Brave Ruler".-People with the first name Ricardo:*Ricardo Arona, Brazilian mixed martial artist*Ricardo de Araújo Pereira, Portuguese comedian...
, and a subjective approach espoused by Lauderdale
Lauderdale
Lauderdale, denoting "dale of the river Leader", is the dale and region around that river in south-eastern Scotland.It can also refer to:-People:*Earls of Lauderdale*Lord Lauderdale, member of The Cabal of Charles II of England-Place names:Australia...
, Senior and others. In the collection of studies that was published in 1973, she appears to have moved to the position that both sides had actually more common features than she had previously thought.
Apart from her work in the history of economics, Marian Bowley also made important contributions to the understanding of the building industries.
Major works
- Nassau Senior and Classical Economics, 1937
- Innovations in Building Materials, 1960
- The British Building Industry, 1966
- Studies in the History of Economic Theory before 1870, 1973