Whoever does not know the history of economics cannot competently think about its future. This book offers an introduction to economic history for those seeking more than just dry theory. The author takes you on a journey through economics, from its beginnings in the Stone Age to the digital age of modern times. In addition to exploring the nature and fundamental principles of economics, the book also introduces great thinkers such as Aquinas, Keynes, and Erhard. While ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle primarily focused on the ethical dimensions of economic activity, the first modern economist and moral philosopher, Adam Smith, considered how nations could achieve wealth. Today, however, in an era where capitalism is increasingly under scrutiny, the question is rather how prosperity can reach everyone. Thus, the book not only delves into the economic concepts of the past and present but also offers an exciting look at the future. Issues such as social justice, digitalization, globalization, and ecology are thoroughly discussed. The second edition has been expanded to include a chapter on "Economics in Uncertain Times," which addresses the economic consequences of current global events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence. A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content. This book is a translation of an original German edition. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the service DeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically differently from a conventional translation.

Autorentext

Dr. Detlef Pietsch studied Business Administration at the University of Mannheim and earned his doctorate at the Chair of International Management. He has been working for more than 25 years on the key ideas of the humanities and social sciences.