This book is designed as a reference tool for students and writers, providing brief biographical data on the economists who have shaped the discipline of economics, and more extensive exposition and analysis of the major features of their economic thought. Fifty Major Economists provides balanced coverage of the contributions of a wide range of economists, from Adam Smith to Gary Becker and Robert E. Lucas, with more space being devoted to seminal theorists who opened up new horizons for economics. Lists of the writers' works are included, along with guides to further reading and a glossary of the economic terms used in the book.