Henri Savall 
Radical Origins to Economic Crises 
Germán Bernácer, A Visionary Precursor

This book presents the complete and pioneering works of the great Spanish economist, Germán Bernácer (1883-1965), to an English audience for the first time. Bernácer, the first director of the Research Service of the Bank of Spain (1930–55), inspired Keynes’ theory but was also a major critic and opponent of it. A macro economist by trade, Bernácer’s major theory related to recurring crises, which he believed were inherent in the existence of speculative markets such as property, works of art, long term currency markets, commercial trading, materials, and energy. Bernácer believed that these speculative markets generate unearned income and hoarding, they abound in financial capital and, when such capital is captured, it then lacks in production industries where real value is created, draining their financing. The author shows how history has repeated itself in this manner in 1929, 2007, 2008, 2014 and 2016.





The author derives his content from Bernácer’s Spanish publications and his private correspondence with his contemporary economists, providing an historical and thematic insight into his thinking. It is well-timed to contribute to current worldwide debates on monetary, financial and budgetary policies needed to implement an economic order that can restore economic stability, providing readers with rare and important insights into the deep roots of crises.








The book will be of interest to all readers interested in the history of economic thought, history of financial crises, Keynesian approaches to economics and criticism to Keynesian approaches.

Inhoudsopgave

PART I: A Pre-Keynes Founder of Modern Economics: Germán Bernácer.- 1. Why publish this work on Germán Bernácer, the great pioneering Spanish economist, now?.- 2. Biography and Testimonies.- PART II: Crisis and Unemployment Theory.- 3. Bernácer’s critical analysis of actual capitalism: ‘a free economy without crisis and without unemployment’.- 4. Monetary factors of crisis: hoarding versuss. investment, inflation and deflation.- 5. The interest rate as a factor of instability and crises.- 6. Improving capitalism through freedom, ethics and efficiency.- 7. Conclusion: advocacy for Bernácer ’s rehabilitation.

Over de auteur

Henri Savall is Emeritus Professor at University Jean Moulin Lyon 3, France and Founding President for the Socio-Economic Institute of Firms and Organizations (ISEOR).