Robert Ekelund

Robert Ekelund is an American economist and professor emeritus of economics at Auburn University, recognized for his contributions to economic history and the economics of art and culture. His research has focused on applying economic analysis to understand historical events, institutions, and various cultural phenomena. Ekelund's work on the economic analysis of the Catholic Church, particularly in books like "Sacred Trust" and "The Marketplace of Christianity," established new frameworks for examining religious institutions through an economic lens. His research demonstrated how economic principles could be applied to understanding religious behavior, church organization, and doctrinal development. Along with colleagues, he developed significant contributions to the field of cultural economics, analyzing art markets, auction behavior, and the economics of museums. His book "The Economics of American Art" provides comprehensive analysis of art markets and collecting behavior in the United States. Throughout his career, Ekelund has published extensively on economic regulation, antitrust policy, and industrial organization. His textbook "A History of Economic Theory and Method," co-authored with Robert Hébert, has become a standard reference in the history of economic thought.

From available reviews, readers value Ekelund's ability to break down complex economic concepts through historical examples and real-world applications. His textbook "A History of Economic Theory and Method" receives credit for clear explanations of economic thought evolution. Liked: - Clear writing style that makes economic theory accessible - Deep historical research and documentation - Balanced treatment of different economic schools of thought - Effective use of case studies and examples Disliked: - Some readers find the density of information overwhelming - Technical terminology can be challenging for non-economists - Price point of textbooks seen as high by students Review Data: Goodreads: "A History of Economic Theory and Method" - 3.8/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: "The Marketplace of Christianity" - 4.1/5 (15 ratings) "Sacred Trust" - 4.0/5 (8 ratings) Notable reader comment: "Presents complex economic history in an understandable way without oversimplifying the core concepts" - Amazon reviewer

Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation: The Economics of the Civil War Examines the economic factors and policies that influenced the American Civil War, focusing on trade restrictions, monetary policy, and their impacts.

Sacred Trust: The Medieval Church as an Economic Firm Analyzes the medieval Catholic Church using economic concepts, exploring how it operated as an economic institution.

The Marketplace of Christianity Studies religious behavior and church organization through economic principles, examining competition between denominations and doctrinal development.

The Economics of American Art: Issues, Artists and Market Institutions Presents a detailed economic analysis of American art markets, collecting patterns, and auction behavior.

A History of Economic Theory and Method Provides a comprehensive overview of the development of economic thought and methodologies throughout history.

Secret Origins of Modern Microeconomics: Dupuit and the Engineers Explores the contributions of French engineers to economic theory, particularly focusing on Jules Dupuit's work.

Economic Origins of Roman Christianity Examines the economic foundations and organizational development of early Christian institutions in ancient Rome.

Joel Mokyr Mokyr's work on technological progress and economic history aligns with Ekelund's interest in historical economic analysis. His research examines how cultural and institutional factors shape economic development and technological change.

Deirdre McCloskey McCloskey analyzes economic history through institutional and cultural lenses, similar to Ekelund's approach. Her work on bourgeois values and economic development applies economic thinking to cultural and social phenomena.

Avner Greif Greif studies historical institutions and their economic impact, particularly focusing on medieval trade and commerce. His analytical framework for studying institutions mirrors Ekelund's approach to examining religious and cultural organizations.

David Throsby Throsby's research focuses on cultural economics and the economics of art markets, directly parallel to Ekelund's work. His analysis of cultural value and cultural capital provides frameworks for understanding art markets and cultural institutions.

Lawrence White White's work on economic regulation and free banking connects with Ekelund's interests in regulatory economics. His research applies economic analysis to understanding institutional development and market structures.