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Richard Lipsey and the "Tyranny" of a Unique Labour Market Equilibrium

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  • Antonella Palumbo

Abstract

The article discusses Richard Lipsey?s (2000a, 2000b, 2010, 2016) criticism of the uniqueness of the macroeconomic equilibrium at constant inflation postulated by new-classical macroeconomic models. Lipsey?s position is analysed in the light of his early contribution to the debate on the Phillips curve (Lipsey 1960). There, as later, Lipsey?s argument rests on the assumption that the labour market, though characterised by a unique demand-and-supply equilibrium, may persist in disequilibria in the long run. Such proposition is discussed critically. Lipsey?s analysis can be seen as a clear expression of the fundamental theoretical difficulty in reconciling Keynesian macroeconomic analysis with the neoclassical postulates.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonella Palumbo, 2023. "Richard Lipsey and the "Tyranny" of a Unique Labour Market Equilibrium," HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND POLICY, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(2), pages 5-29.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:spespe:v:html10.3280/spe2023-002001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard G. Lipsey & William Scarth (ed.), 2011. "Inflation and Unemployment: The Evolution of the Phillips Curve," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, volume 0, number 3567.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • B22 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Macroeconomics
    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals
    • E12 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Keynes; Keynesian; Post-Keynesian; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General

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