Comparing and Contrasting Economic Ideas Essay

Introduction As individual leading in groundbreaking scotch thinking and attitude, economic experts Milton Friedman and John Maynard Keynes was hailed and criticized by many different individuals and institutions because of their contribution to global economy attitudes as well as because of the slightlymultiplication very radical ways that the two required of economical leaders to resort to so that they can follow the economic model that either Friedman and Keynes designed.Both are rightfield and wrong when it comes to understanding economy and providing a source which can be used to unlock the mysteries of the changing economic dilemma that the world experiences which requires the input of economists. And during their time, Friedman and Keynes enjoyed the god-like loft from which they stood, one at a time, when the world was curtain call to the economic thoughts that they made.Similarities Friedman and Keynes economic thoughts meet in the middle While Friedmans and Keynes thoughts and focus on economics wear inherent differences, somewhat observers believe that the two economic bringing close togethers espoused by Friedman and Keynes alike have some inter tradeableities. For one, the two economists and their ideas are in agreement when it comes to the stable growth rate of money supply and its utilization in fluctuation and employment1.Also, the two were inherently economist in inclination they stand on similar grounds even if it means digging and building that ground using different shovels and different strokes. Second, the economic ideas of the two individuals share the similar characterisitcs of being popular and widely used and regarded before the turn out change in political landscape made the idea of obsolete and useless for Keynes and his economic idea almost the consumption of the state in economic leadership, the flowering of his idea came after the world, occurrencely the US, felt the overindulge to the economy after th e two world wars and the occurrence of the Great Depression, his idea ultimately subsiding by the time the world came closer and closer to the 80s.For Friedman, his economic idea got its turn after it proved having the solution to the problem the Keynes model cannot answer, and after enjoying his moment in the spotlight for some years, the global crisis that engulfed the world pushed Friedmans ideas closer and closer to the trash bin. Friedman and Keynes and their ideas share the similar pace when it comes to public credence, as well as the same characteristic that their ideas from apiece one are pets of US presidents former US president Richard Nixon was a Keynesian while another former US president, Ronal Reagan implemented a Friedman approach in economics2.Another analogy in the economic idea of Friedman and Keynes is that their ideas allowed for the identification of an entity or institution or idea that was the reason for the bankruptcy of the economy. Take for example the Great Depression, for those adhering to the Keynesian belief in economics, they are inclined to believe that there is someone or something at fault why such occurrence happened, and that is the idea of free market. Friedman thinking volition also lead the individual towards the same belief of having someone or something at fault, and that is the national Reserve, so far as Friedman economic thinking is concerned.Another similarity shared by Keynes and Friedman and their aggress and pattern in developing economic thought and assuring the audience needed for the establishment of the popularity and credence of their particular economic thought is the manner by which their economic thoughts and ideas were built and spread around those who will either criticize or embrace it.Wood (1991) explained, The most surprising aspect of Friedmans achievements is that he has not to a greater extent earned the gratitude of the profession. To a large degree this is due to the sapiently critical form in which he has presented his ideas.3In his attacks on the positions of other he has at times tended to depart from the to a greater extent careful and guarded way in which he typically presents his own results. This has certified him of a wide audience, because it is often easier to attract adherents to a revolution in thinking even a counter-revolution than to a less dramatic evolution of a hypothesis. This is a characteristic which Friedman shares with Keynes and explains why both have been at the same time highly controversial and highly successful in the development of economic thought.Economists in a head-on collision Despite the similarities found in Friedman and Keynes and their thoughts and the pacing and social acceptance lifespan of their ideas, Friedman and Keynes and their ideas in economies are more accepted, criticized and reviewed because of how the two ideas find contrasting points against the other. They and their ideas have significant differences that t hey are described sometimes as the great polarizers of the economy and the economic belief and attitude.For Friedman, Keynes was incorrect about the idea of the state and its active role in dictating the economy. For Friedman, the more suitable solution is for the state to k promptly that its role in the economy is focused on ensuring the growth of money supply. Friedman stressed the importance of monetary policy versus the idea of Keynes and the role of state spending. Friedman also challenged the manner by which Keynes explained the behavior of the consumer especially during the cases of inflation and the ensuing unemployment4.The Keynes-Friedman Showdown While it is understandable how there will be purely separate groups that support the thoughts of Keynes and the economic thinking of Friedman, there are instances that the two modern day economic thinkers figure in coarse showdowns (which is not of their doing, of course, but the doing of other people and institutions particul arly award giving bodies that set out to call who is the best between the two). An example of these instances is the during the time globally popular and highly respected weekly flashy magazine TIME undertook the task of naming the recipient of the Economist of the Century honor to wrap up the end of the twentieth century5.Skousen (2001) wrote about how the members of the selecting group were torn between Friedman and Keynes, and how Friedman ultimately bested Keynes despite the fact that some TIME magazine staff, including editor in chief Norman Pearlstine, believed that the award should go to Keynes. Pearlstine believed that the manner by which Keynes articulated the importance of free markets as well as the significance of the undue government noise that will resort to the creation of danger in the economic landscape6 is an important modern day economic idea that will benefit not just one country but the world, especially now that the world is experiencing global trade and eco nomics.Cambridge University in 1970, during the time Friedman faced a highly partisan, pro Keynes crowd together who rooted for their favorite Nicholas Kaldor which Friedman soundly defeated during the debate7. Some would say that the surprising Friedman win in that particular debate (which silenced the murmuring crowd of infidels) was due largely because of the absence of Keynes himself, but it may also point to the fact that Friedman and his economic ideals holds true in some aspects.Conclusion Many scholars, critics, new economists, political analysts and historians until now continually debate about the similarities and differences of Keynes and Friedman and their economic ideas. More importantly, they debated about how each economist and each idea they gave to the world helped in shaping world economy as it is today. Some say that Milton was unconnected Friedman, while some think they are the same. Some believe that Friedman was better than Keynes, while others feel otherwis e. Others go to the extreme, considering that the two lived in an interconnected life, that one completes the other, as DeLong believes that Friedman was not a competitor to Keynes, but more of the man that completed Keynes8.The issues and points arising in the debate focused on the person and their ideas bring about ample complexity that the end is always hard to see, predict and achieve. But for the differences of Friedman and Keynes, it is no doubt that both economist contributed immensely in the field of economics, and because of that, they were showered not just with official honors but with very flattering commentaries by critics and observers. Mark Blaug was quoted by Skousen in his book as attributing to Friedman and his great ability for debating and fighting for his position in economic ideologies9 that resulted to his earning the respect of even his most critical and previously unimpressed adversaries.Skousen (2001) believes that Friedman is the most famous economist ali ve, but he was quick to counter his proposition by reminding the readers that Friedman was not a giant at first in the circle of economic thinkers, owing largely to the fact that Friedman and his economic ideas (i.e. his monetarism beliefs) were heavily criticized earlier in his career as an economic thinker. 10 Truly, both Keynes and Friedman created such economic ideals that went to the extent that it became antagonistic with each other. But professionals knew that underneath it all, the more important thing to consider is the fact that the differences and similarities found in Keynes and Friedmans works gave the world what it can used to manage changing economic difficulties.Works CitedDeLong, J Bradford. Friedman realized Keynes. Project Syndicate. 2006. 23 May 2008 .Heuser, Uwe Jean. The Underrated Power of Economists. Indymedia.org.uk. 28 June 2007. 23 May 2008 .Macesich, George. manhood Economy at the Crossroads. Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated, November 1997.Skou sen, Mark. The Making of Modern Economics The Lives and Ideas of the Great Thinkers. Sharpe, Me., Inc., March 2001.Wood, John Cunningham. Milton Friedman Critical Assessments Vol. 14. Taylor & Francis, Inc., opulent 1990.1 Macesich, George. World Economy at the Crossroads. Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated, November 1997. p. 12.2 Heuser, Uwe Jean. The Underrated Power of Economists. Indymedia.org.uk. 28 June 2007. 23 May 2008 .3 Wood, John Cunningham. Milton Friedman Critical Assessments Vol. 14. Taylor & Francis, Inc., August 1990. p. 465.4 Heuser, Uwe Jean. The Underrated Power of Economists. Indymedia.org.uk. 28 June 2007. 23 May 2008 .5 Skousen, Mark. The Making of Modern Economics The Lives and Ideas of the Great Thinkers. Sharpe, Me., Inc., March 2001. pg 379.6 ib.7 Skousen. pg 380.8 DeLong, J Bradford. Friedman Completed Keynes. Project Syndicate. 2006. 23 May 2008 .9 Skousen, p. 38010 Ibid.