----------------- HES POSTING ----------------- With respect to the "greatest economist." First, what are the criteria? Influence on subsequent work? Frequency of citation, approving, disapproving, or both? Inventiveness? Insight? Correctness? Mastery of theory? Empirically relevant? [Certainly not all economists who have been influenced by and who have cited Karl Marx have thought he was correct in his analysis. Should we have a contest for the economist who has done the most damage? Would that make that person the worst economist?] Intelligence? From my biased point of view I would pick John Rae, whose insights, according to Schumpeter, could have been [I would say were] the basis of a much improved WEALTH OF NATIONS, or Thorstein Veblen as the most intelligent. Should the criterion be the extent to which they influenced public policy? I would judge that Marshall's text has been the most influential in the academy. So many subsequent texts have been revisions of it. But, in the matter of influence on public policy would not Adam Smith, J.M. Keynes, and even Milton Friedman have been more influential in public policy? Robin Neill ------------ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ------------ For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]