A.C. Pigou (1877-1959)

This chapter overviews the aspects of A.C. Pigou’s intellectual life that mark him as a very important figure in the history of Cambridge economics. His biography is briefly examined, with consideration given to his activities before arriving at Cambridge, his prize-winning activities as a student at Cambridge, his public-spirited activities as a Fellow of King’s College, and the leadership role that he played in the practice and development of economics at Cambridge during his tenure as the Professor of Political Economy. Pigou’s major contributions to the creation of economic knowledge are also reviewed, from his earliest work on utility, employment, and trade through to his late career work on unemployment and its relationship to macroeconomic thinking. A reflection on his contributions to official public service is also included.