A Brilliant Brain

Biography

John Maynard Keynes revolutionized economic theory by demonstrating that markets don't automatically selfcorrect, fundamentally challenging classical economics. His work during the Great Depression provided the intellectual foundation for government intervention and fiscal policy, reshaping how nations manage economies. He remains one of the most influential economists of the 20th century, though his ideas remain hotly debated.

Key Facts

• Keynes predicted the economic catastrophe that would follow the Treaty of Versailles, which he outlined in 'The Economic Consequences of the Peace' (1919)
• He developed the concept of 'animal spirits' to explain irrational economic behavior driven by human psychology rather than pure logic
• Keynes was a successful investor and speculator who made and lost fortunes, applying his theories to real-world trading
• He was a prominent member of the Bloomsbury Group, an influential circle of intellectuals, artists, and writers in early 20th-century England
• His magnum opus 'The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money' (1936) became the most influential economics text of its era