A Feminist Perspective on the History of Economics

This book presents the life and work of twelve women authors who published on economic issues in eighteenth century Britain, bringing together bodies of literature of women’s and gender history, English literature and culture studies, and introduces them to the field of history of economics. It gives a comprehensive discussion of these economic authors and their contributions to eighteenth century debates on women’s and economic issues, and it explores and reflects on the relation of this work to the canon of political economy, as we currently know it.

The work of - male - eighteenth century political economists is silent on women and their work, giving the impression that women had both no functions in the economy, and did not write on the topic. This book provides the reader with an introduction to and overview of texts written by women on economic issues, giving a new perspective on the British eighteenth century economy. The book introduces a set of economic texts that are new to historians of economic thought. These texts address the economic experience of women in the period in which the foundations of political economy were being laid out. Thus the book provides a historical background to feminist economic debates and aims to broaden the material basis of economic science with the experiences and economic views of women authors.