Geoffrey Harcourt (1931–2021): His Life and Works

Abstract

Geoff Harcourt had a distinguished academic career, principally in Adelaide and Cambridge. He was one of the world’s foremost post-Keynesian economists and an expert in capital theory. He was an all-rounder who wrote in many areas of economic theory and economic policy. His ‘horses for courses’ approach to economics saw him using different tools and styles to address different problems and audiences. He also wrote intellectual biographies of many of his fellow economists and contributed generously to the writing of his colleagues, offering advice and introducing authors to other scholars who could help them. He was a popular and respected teacher, as well as a strong activist and advocate on important social issues. Witty, warm, inspiring and sympathetic, he was a human being of outstanding quality.