DEATH OF J. K. GALBRAITH

Early day motion 2070, tabled 2 May 2006 by David Drew (Labour). Signed by 55 members.

That this House notes with sadness the recent death of J. K. Galbraith, economist, diplomat and adviser to numerous American presidents; recognises the huge debt that liberal democracies owe to him as an opponent to the crass monetarism of the 1980s and 1990s and for keeping Keynesian economics alive; acknowledges the way in which he was able to use his wit, charm and excellence in communication to advance the study of economics beyond the academic world to influence the views of the general public and in particular pays tribute to his great works including American Capitalism and The Concept of Countervailing Power, The Great Crash (1929), The Affluent Society and The Culture of Contentment; remembers with nostalgia his Reith Lectures and his BBC TV series The Age of Uncertainty; and believes that it is unlikely that his like will ever be seen again.

Signatures by party: Labour 42, Liberal Democrat 8, Scottish National Party 2, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.