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Understanding Financial Instability: Minsky Versus the Austrians

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  • Van Den Hauwe Ludwig

    (Independent Scholar, Ph.D. Université Paris Dauphine)

Abstract
Although Minsky’s interpretation of Keynes’s macroeconomics and essential message clashes with authoritative alternative interpretations, it has become increasingly influential during the years following the Global Financial Crisis, even in mainstream circles. This paper offers a critical evaluation of Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis from the perspective of the alternative Austro-Wicksellian paradigm. Although some of the similarities and/or analogies between Minsky’s approach and that of the Austrian School suggest a more than merely superficial affinity between the two theoretical frameworks and although some scope for cross-fertilization between both approaches can be found, both theoretically and empirically, at a fundamental conceptual level both theories remain incompatible and difficult if not impossible to reconcile, in particular in terms of fundamental causality and in terms of policy conclusions and prescriptions. Despite the fact that Minsky’s policy conclusions are multifaceted and somewhat eclectic, they manifest a lack of familiarity with the conclusions of the Austrian analysis of the problems of central planning by Big Players such as Big Bank and Big Government. Both approaches also offer contrasting interpretations of the historical experience of the Global Financial Crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Van Den Hauwe Ludwig, 2016. "Understanding Financial Instability: Minsky Versus the Austrians," Journal des Economistes et des Etudes Humaines, De Gruyter, vol. 22(1), pages 25-60, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:jeehcn:v:22:y:2016:i:1:p:25-60:n:3
    DOI: 10.1515/jeeh-2016-0008
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    Cited by:

    1. Lawrence H. White, 2015. "Skepticism About Minsky's Financial Instability Hypothesis: A Comment on Flanders," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 12(1), pages 106-113, January.
    2. Martínez Ignacio & Mursa Gabriel, 2016. "From Orthodoxy to Heterodoxy: Financial Crisis Literature Compared," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 63(s1), pages 71-87, December.
    3. Víctor I. Espinosa & Miguel A. Alonso-Neira & Jesús Huerta de Soto, 2023. "The Ethics of Fractional-Reserve Banking System: A Private Property Rights Approach," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-15, August.
    4. Correa Romar, 2015. "The Coordination Problem in the Stockholm School," Journal of Heterodox Economics, Sciendo, vol. 2(2), pages 138-150, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Austrian School; Minsky; Keynes; Global Financial Crisis; Financial Fragility; Financial Instability; Heterodox Macroeconomics; Financial Reform; Business Cycle;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B50 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - General
    • B53 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Austrian
    • B59 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Other
    • E3 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles
    • E30 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles

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