This book provides a comprehensive and analytical overview of the development of economic theory from its beginnings, at the end of the Middle Ages, up to contemporary contributions. Traditional theories are presented as living matter, and modern theories are presented as part of a historical process and not as established truths. In this way, the book avoids the dangerous dichotomy between pure historians of thought who dedicate themselves exclusively to studying facts, and pure theorists who are interested in the evolution of the logical structure of theories.

The second edition contains several changes and additions. The authors give due consideration to the "civil economy" perspective developed during Humanism and the Renaissance. The section on Adam Smith has been considerably extended and improved. The treatment of the post-keynesian approach has been separated from "new keynesian macroeconomics". Finally, a new chapter has been added to review the most recent developments in the economic discourse in the light of globalization and the new technological trajectory.

Ernesto Screpanti studied Sociology at the University of Trento (Italy) and Economics at the University of Cambridge. He has taught economics in various Italian universities and, at present, is teaching at the University of Siena. He was a member of the Steering Committees of the EAEPE and the AISSEC. He publishes extensively on labour economics, institutional economics and the history of economic thought.

Stefano Zamagni studied Economics at the Catholic University in Milan and then at the University of Oxford with John Hicks. He holds the chair of Economics in the University of Bologna; he is adjunct professor of Public Sector Economics at the Johns Hopkins University, Bologna Center, and visiting professor of History of Economic Thought at Bocconi University, Milan. He was a member of the executive committee of International Economic Association (1989-1999) and Vice President of the Italian Economic Association. He publishes on consumer theory, capital theory, institutional economics, history of economic thought.