Robert Lekachman

Robert Lekachman (May 12, 1920 – January 14, 1989) was an economist known for his extensive advocacy of state intervention, and for a debating style characterized by slow, sing-song speech and circumlocution.

He received both his A.B. and Ph.D. from Columbia University.

Lekachman was also noted for an interpretation of Keynes's General Theory that made central its rejection of Say's Law (in favor of Walras' law). Lekachman identified as a socialist.

In his obituary, the New York Times wrote: "Throughout his career Dr. Lekachman espoused a philosophy that sought to promote social justice simultaneously with economic growth. He advocated compassion on the part of government toward the underprivileged. His last published work, which appeared last week in The Nation magazine, was a cautionary article of advice to President-elect George Bush." 

He died at his Manhattan home of liver cancer, survived by his wife Eva, who donated his papers in 1995.

Selected publications 
National Policy for Economic Welfare at Home and Abroad. 1955. Doubleday.
A History of Economic Ideas. 1959. Harper.
The varieties of economics. 1962. Cleveland: World Pub Co.
Keynes and the classics. 1964. Heath.
Keynes's General Theory: Reports of Three Decades. 1964. St. Martin's Press.
The Age of Keynes. 1966. New York: Vintage Books.
National income and the public welfare. 1972. New York: Random House. 
Public service employment: jobs for all. 1972.
Inflation: the permanent problem of boom and bust. 1973. New York: Vintage Books. 
Economists at Bay : why the experts will never solve your problems. 1977. McGraw-Hill.
The great Tax debate.
Capitalism for Beginners. 1981. Pantheon
Greed Is Not Enough: Reaganomics. 1982. Pantheon.
Visions and Nightmares : America after Reagan. 1987. Macmillan.

References 

Category:1920 births
Category:1989 deaths
Category:Economists from New York (state)
Category:American army personnel of World War II
Category:Barnard College faculty
Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state)
Category:Columbia Business School faculty
Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni
Category:Columbia University faculty
Category:Deaths from liver cancer
Category:Lehman College faculty
Category:Scientists from New York City
Category:United States Army personnel
Category:American socialists
Category:Jewish American social scientists
Category:Guggenheim Fellows
Category:20th-century American economists