Economist Andrew Leigh outlines the history of economics to show how capitalism has shaped the world and how it underscores some of the greatest challenges we face today, from climate change to AI technology.

Economics is at the heart of our work, our play, and how we move around the globe.

The history of economics is a lens we can use to better understand our world, current events, and many of the issues we face as modern humans.

Andrew Leigh is a member of the Australian House of Representatives and an economist with a Ph.D. in public policy from Harvard University.

In his 2024 book, How Economics Explains the World, Leigh provides a basic timeline of the history of economics and explains how we can use economics to consider our options and values, especially regarding what we need and how that impacts our lives and the lives of those around us.