MR. KEYNES AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT
By A. L. Rowse
In this booklet (Macmillan, 2s. 6d.) Mr. Rowse seizes joyfully on Mr. J. M. Keynes' recent monumental work, The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, and presents it to the world as a triuinphant vindication of the policy of the British Labour Party. For years, Mr. Rowse says, the Labour Party has been advocating higher taxation on the rich, and bigger social services, in order to expand consumption and prevent unemploy- ment. The City,. and some so-called economists, have denounced this policy as' economically unsound. And now comes Mr. Keynes to show that it is in fact the only policy which can make the economic system work, and that alt theories which suggest the contrary are wrong. Mr. Rowse is a little simple in his intellectual categories. " De- ductive," a priori, " abstract " think- ing is bad and wrong. " Empirical," ",realistic," " common sense" thinking is good and right. Mr. Keynes, therefore. is wholly right, and all former economists are wholly wrong. In general, however, Mr. Rowse accurately expounds the essentials of Mr.. Keynes' book,: :and argues with reason that they are a forceful justification of Labour's policy of social reform. So much nonsense is now talked about the necessity. or inevitability, of revolution or reaction that Mr. Rowse's book is most refreshing and enjoyable. Those who read it will be both enlightened and entertained.
Previous page
