The Gypsy Economist: The Life and Times of Colin Clark by Alex Millmow
这本书讲述了经济学家科林·克拉克的生平，他发明了国民生产总值（GNP），对国民收入核算贡献巨大，但长期被经济思想史忽视。适合对经济思想史和统计史感兴趣的读者。
When David Clark asked his father, Colin Clark, about the difference between gross domestic product (GDP) and gross national product (GNP), Colin answered, “I invented GNP.” Colin's answer appears at the beginning of chapter 4 (“Becoming the World's Economic Statistician”) of Alex Millmow's The Gypsy Economist, and I begin with it because it shows the huge impact of Clark's thought on economics. At the same time, it also raises the question of how such important things like GDP and GNP, as well as other of Clark's contributions that, together, might even have won him the Nobel Prize, have passed under the radar of the history of economic thought, with only some exceptions, such as the works of Angus Maddison and Geoff Tily. The recent rediscovery of the importance of the history of national accounting in the context of the 2009 Sarkozy Report on the limits of GDP has also generated more interest in the importance of its main contributors.1 Millmow's book is also about how Clark's life, along with his contributions to economic statistics and national accounting, was left in the depths of the history of economic thought, despite being influential and well known by many important economists.The opening chapter introduces us to Clark's formative years, his early education, and the fierce passion he held for economics, history, and politics. Millmow creatively sets the stage for an exploration of Clark's distinctive contributions to the field and the controversies that surrounded his nonconventional approach. Born in London on November 2, 1905, Colin Clark was an Anglo-Australian economist whose life largely unfolded in Australia starting from 1937. The demands of his sizable family—eight sons and one daughter, with seven born in Australia—compelled him to continually focus on household finances and seek additional income sources. Renowned for his meticulous collection and analysis of economic data, Clark left an indelible mark on the field, notably contributing to the advancement of national income accounting. His fascination with Australia's economic statistics, particularly at the state level, stemmed from his belief that a nation's level of civilization could be gauged through its statistical representation. Much like W. S. Jevons, Clark transitioned from studying chemistry to fully immersing himself in the field of economics. However, beyond their shared affinity for empirical approaches, there existed other intriguing parallels between the two scholars. During their youth, both ventured to Australia to refine their skills: Jevons served at the Royal Mint in Sydney during the 1850s, while Clark found himself at the Queensland Treasury in Brisbane nearly a century later. In addition to their economic pursuits, both individuals exhibited broad-ranging interests, delving into various domains of knowledge beyond the confines of economics. In this introductory discussion, the reader can already perceive why Millmow's description of Clark's life fits perfectly in Matthew Arnold's poem “The Scholar Gypsy,” which gave the biography its title, since Clark developed a “non-academic” style of research and even so gained recognition from major academic economists (we shall return to this discussion at the end of this review).Moving on to chapter 2, “Brilliant Beginnings,” Millmow skillfully navigates us through Clark's early years, highlighting his inherent genius and insatiable curiosity. This transformation continued during his time at Cambridge University, where his economic acumen flourished, along with a growing interest in social reform. This engagement led Clark to intersect with the Fabian Society (chap. 3), an organization formed in 1884 to promote socialist principles through intellectual discourse, research, and education. The Fabians held sway in policy development, particularly within the Labour Party, and significantly influenced the establishment of the modern welfare state in the UK. In the early 1930s, while in Cambridge, Clark joined the executive committee of the New Fabian Research Bureau (NFRB), a cohort composed primarily of young economists dedicated to exploring democratic socialism through research and teaching. This association molded his early economic perspectives and laid the foundation for his commitment to socioeconomic reforms. In chapter 4, “Becoming the World's Economic Statistician,” Millmow delves into Clark's pivotal work in national income estimates. Richard Kahn and John Maynard Keynes were instrumental in disseminating Clark's early estimates. Clark's estimates played a role in Kahn's and later Keynes's multiplier approach, and Clark independently advocated for public works after the 1929 depression. He expressed his views on investment and savings by contributing a chapter to a volume prepared by G. D. H. Cole in 1933 titled What Everybody Wants to Know about Money, in which he advocated for public works and a wage policy to support aggregate demand. Keynes endorsed Clark's estimates, prompting him to publish his research on national income and defend its importance to the British government in the 1930s.In 1937, with the publication of National Income and Outlay, Clark made his second attempt at estimating national income and introduced the concept of GNP. This marked the inception of a divergence between Clark and Keynes, particularly over the definition of national income, which would influence Keynes's 1940 publication How to Pay for the War. Keynes's partnership with Erwin Rothbarth led to the rise of national accounting, which was further shaped by Richard Stone, a dedicated pupil of Clark's. Stone collaborated with Keynes and James Meade to develop the first official estimates used in the 1941 white paper in the UK, establishing the standard framework of national accounting in 1945. Clark's influence on Stone, as emphasized in Stone's 1984 Nobel Prize speech, played a pivotal role. Stone aligned with Clark's purpose in developing national income estimates, which Clark solidified in his influential book Conditions of Economic Progress in 1940. Notably, Clark pioneered the use of prices for international comparisons, a practice that laid the foundation for the United Nations’ System of National Accounts (SNA). Chapters 5 and 6 elucidate how Clark's prowess in national income accounting drew him to Australia, where he excelled in constructing a comprehensive national accounts framework. His time in Australia also sparked a keen interest in the economic progress of Asia, particularly Japan and China. His ventures in Asia involved extensive research and advisory roles, shaping economic policies. Clark's proficiency in national income accounting and his involvement in economic development position him as a prominent figure in the economic realm. His mastery of statistical methodologies and their practical application garnered wide acclaim. His influence extended to economic policy, notably in international trade and economic development.The narrative unfolds in the next chapters of Millmow's book, drawing us into the heart of Clark's ideological fervor. Clark had an unorthodox view on population growth and resource scarcity. Against prevailing Malthusian theories, Clark's optimism in human ingenuity shines through. Millmow masterfully guides us through Clark's innovative ideas on tackling environmental challenges and maintaining equilibrium in the face of burgeoning populations.Then we are taken through the tumultuous course of Clark's career in an engaging narrative. The clashes between Clark's audacious economic vision and the establishment's views were marked by controversies, underscoring his resolute commitment to shaping economic landscapes. Millmow delves into the puzzle of Clark's recognition, or lack thereof, in prestigious awards like the Nobel Prize, dissecting the intricate factors that propelled his influence, and yet limited his renown.Clark's conversion to Roman Catholicism marked a profound shift in his life, echoing in his economic theories. Chapter 9, “Two Revelations,” uncovers pivotal insights that shaped Clark's economic philosophy. The subsequent chapters detail his nomadic life, spanning continents, and his habit of writing amid the airport bustle. Between 1948 and 1952, Clark's roles on the Council of the Econometric Society and his pursuit of diverse posts for financial stability led him to the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, the University of Chicago, and eventually the directorship of the Agricultural Economics Research Institute at Oxford University. While Clark preferred engagement in Australia despite his Oxford tenure, he applied for a position at the Australian National University, highlighting the flexibility of his diverse concerns in long-run economic change. His enduring influence on economic theory and policy is evident as Millmow explores his contributions to subsequent generations of economists. Part 3, “1953–1969 A Gypsy Scholar at Oxford,” depicts Clark as a dynamic figure challenging norms, providing research leadership, and contributing to economic discussions. Upon his return to Australia in 1969, he led Monash University's Institute of Economic Progress, working toward sustainable development and social welfare. He crafted an ambitious economic blueprint for Australia, amid controversies. The final chapters present Clark's last years, marked by recognition, illness, and reflections on his legacy. As an acclaimed applied economist, he criticized excessive mathematization in contemporary economics, advocating for data scrutiny. His impatience with theory and its imbalance with economic reality defined his approach, influencing his recognition and relationships with fellow economists. His family, especially his wife, Marjorie, played a pivotal role in his career, as they settled in Queensland, spending their later years there.Millmow's book effectively fills some gaps in the history of economic thought, shedding light on Clark's underrated influence on prominent economists of the twentieth century. Despite his lack of widespread recognition, Clark's friendships with influential economists facilitated the dissemination of his ideas, highlighting his significant indirect impact on economic thought. Millmow aptly parallels this phenomenon with Arnold's poem “The Scholar Gypsy.” Notably, twentieth-century economists’ success also often lay in their relationships rather than solely their theoretical views. In his own case, Clark's success could stem from his preference for an empirical over a theoretical approach to economics, a disposition evident throughout his life, which resulted in his not pursuing conventional academic posts or seeking formal recognition. Despite this, Clark's pragmatic approach contributed significantly to economic analysis and the development of national accounting, an aspect often overshadowed. In this way, much like Arnold's scholar gypsy, Clark embarked on a distinctive path, becoming an “unknown” figure in economics. His quest yielded crucial contributions beyond his own ideas, significantly influencing various analytical tools. Despite being overlooked, Clark's role in shaping national accounting was pivotal in the economic landscape. Just as Arnold's poem highlights missed opportunities, Clark's contributions remind us of the unappreciated yet significant histories that shape our understanding of economics. Millmow's book provides the reader a very enjoyable experience of following Clark's “gypsy” lifestyle, and it also will become an important source of research as the history of national accounting gains more traction in the coming decades.