Deirdre McCloskey: A Legacy of Economics, Rhetoric, and History
Deirdre McCloskey is a distinguished scholar whose career spans the intersection of economics, history, and the art of persuasion. From her early contributions to the quantification of historical data to her later critiques of how economists communicate, McCloskey has consistently challenged the boundaries of her field, urging a more nuanced understanding of human growth and scientific inquiry.
Academic Foundations and Early Career
Born in Ann Arbor, McCloskey established her academic roots at Harvard University, where she earned an AB in economics in 1964 and a PhD in 1970. Studying under Alexander Gerschenkron, she focused her doctoral research on the British iron and steel industry—a project that earned her the prestigious David A. Wells Prize in 1973.
In 1968, she joined the University of Chicago as an assistant professor of economics. Her tenure there was marked by her involvement in the cliometric revolution—the application of economic theory and quantitative methods to the study of history. During this period, she taught Chicago Price Theory, a course that eventually formed the basis of her book, The Applied Theory of Price. By 1979, she had expanded her academic reach, being appointed as an associate professor of history.
The Shift Toward Rhetoric and the University of Iowa
A pivotal shift occurred in 1979 when, encouraged by Wayne Booth of the English department at Chicago, McCloskey began studying the rhetoric of economics—the study of how language and persuasion shape economic arguments. Following a dispute regarding her promotion to full professor in 1980, she transitioned to the University of Iowa.
At Iowa, McCloskey continued to innovate. In 1984, she was appointed the John F. Murray Chair in Economics. She published the influential The Rhetoric of Economics in 1985 and co-founded the Project on Rhetoric of Inquiry, a graduate program and institution established alongside John S. Nelson, Allan Megill, and other colleagues.
Contributions to Econometrics and Methodology
Beyond rhetoric, McCloskey has made significant impacts on the technical side of the discipline. In 1996, she and Stephen Ziliak published a seminal paper titled "The Standard Error of Regressions" in the Journal of Economic Literature. This work launched a decades-long collaboration focusing on the history, philosophy, and practice of statistical significance testing and estimation across economics, medicine, and other scientific fields.
Her vast body of work includes 25 books and nearly 500 articles. Her intellectual contributions are diverse, ranging from the economic history of 19th-century British trade and medieval agriculture to the exploration of virtue ethics, feminist economics, and heterodox economics. She is perhaps most noted for her trilogy, The Bourgeois Era, which examines the origins of modern economic growth.
Key Facts
- Education: AB (1964) and PhD (1970) in Economics from Harvard University.
- Major Awards: Winner of the 1973 David A. Wells Prize for her dissertation on the British iron and steel industry.
- Academic Appointments: Held professorships at the University of Chicago and the University of Iowa (John F. Murray Chair).
- Key Publications: Author of The Applied Theory of Price, The Rhetoric of Economics, and The Bourgeois Era trilogy.
- Research Focus: Cliometrics, economic methodology, rhetoric of the human sciences, and statistical significance testing.
| Period/Year | Institution/Achievement | Key Focus/Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1964-1970 | Harvard University | AB and PhD in Economics |
| 1968-1980 | University of Chicago | Cliometrics and Price Theory |
| 1980-1999 | University of Iowa | Rhetoric of Inquiry and John F. Murray Chair |
| 1996-Present | Collaboration with Stephen Ziliak | Statistical significance and econometrics |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cliometrics?
Cliometrics is the application of economic theory and quantitative, statistical methods to the study of economic history, a field in which McCloskey was a key contributor during her time at the University of Chicago.
What is the "Rhetoric of Economics"?
It is the study of how economists use language, metaphors, and persuasion to present their arguments, rather than relying solely on mathematical models or raw data.
What was the significance of her work with Stephen Ziliak?
Together, they challenged the standard use and potential misuse of statistical significance testing and estimation in economics, medicine, and other sciences.
What is "The Bourgeois Era"?
This is a trilogy of books authored by McCloskey that explores the origins of modern economic growth and the role of bourgeois values in shaping the modern world.
Which institutions did Deirdre McCloskey teach at?
She served as a professor at the University of Chicago and later at the University of Iowa, where she held the John F. Murray Chair in Economics.