John Cazenove - AggreNotes

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John Cazenove (1788 – 15 January 1879) was an English clergyman and political economist, best known for his staunch support and elucidation of the economic theories of Thomas Robert Malthus. He played a role in the economic debates of the early to mid-19th century, primarily as a popularizer and defender of Malthusian doctrines, particularly concerning population, demand, and the possibility of general gluts.

John Cazenove was born into a family of Huguenot descent, a lineage known for its contributions to British commerce and intellectual life. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1810 and M.A. in 1813. He was ordained in the Church of England and served as a clergyman for much of his life, including as curate of Matching, Essex, and later as vicar of Ifield, Sussex.

Alongside his pastoral duties, Cazenove dedicated considerable intellectual energy to the study and exposition of political economy. He became a close associate and admirer of Thomas Robert Malthus, whose ideas he sought to clarify, defend, and disseminate.

Cazenove's contributions to economics are primarily as an interpreter and advocate of Malthusian thought, rather than as an originator of entirely new theories.

Advocacy of Malthusian Economics:
- Cazenove is primarily remembered in economics as a devoted disciple and interpreter of Thomas Robert Malthus. He consistently supported Malthus's principle of population and, crucially, Malthus's theory of effective demand and the possibility of general gluts (i.e., a general oversupply of goods relative to demand).
- This placed him in opposition to many contemporary classical economists, particularly David Ricardo and his followers, who adhered to Say's Law (the idea that supply creates its own demand, making general gluts impossible).

Editor of Malthus's Definitions in Political Economy
- His most direct and lasting contribution to Malthusian scholarship was his editing and publishing of Malthus's Definitions in Political Economy in 1853. Malthus had left this work in manuscript form at his death in 1834. Cazenove's edition, which included Malthus's original preface and Cazenove's own introductory remarks, helped to preserve and present Malthus's views on the importance of clear definitions for the advancement of economic science.

Works on Political Economy:
- Cazenove authored several works aimed at explaining the principles of political economy, often with a Malthusian inflection. These treatises, such as An Elementary Treatise on Political Economy and Outlines of Political Economy, were intended to make economic principles accessible and to counter what he saw as misunderstandings of Malthus's theories.

Theory of Gluts and Unproductive Consumption:
- Like Malthus, Cazenove was concerned with the possibility of "general gluts" arising from insufficient effective demand. He argued that excessive saving (or "parsimony," as it was then often termed) could lead to a situation where production outstripped consumption, leading to falling profits and economic stagnation.
- Following Malthus, he suggested that "unproductive consumption" – spending by landlords, state functionaries, and others who did not directly engage in commodity production – could play a role in maintaining aggregate demand and preventing gluts.

Capital Accumulation and Profits:
- In his Considerations on the Accumulation of Capital (1822), Cazenove explored the relationship between capital accumulation, profits, and demand. He argued against excessive parsimony if it was not matched by profitable investment opportunities, as this could lead to deficient demand and a fall in the rate of profit. This work reflected the Malthusian concern that the drive to accumulate capital, without sufficient demand for the resulting output, could be self-defeating.

Cazenove's work placed him firmly in the Malthusian camp, often in opposition to the Ricardian school of thought which dominated English political economy for a period. His writings frequently engaged with the arguments of Ricardo, James Mill, J.R. McCulloch, and Jean-Baptiste Say, defending Malthus's positions on value, rent, demand, and the causes of economic distress.

John Cazenove was a minor figure in the pantheon of classical economists, and his influence was primarily as a popularizer and defender of Malthusian economics rather than as an originator of groundbreaking theories. His works are valuable to historians of economic thought for the insights they provide into the Malthusian school of thought, the nuances of Malthus's own theories, and the economic debates of the early to mid-19th century. His careful editing of Malthus's Definitions ensured that this important work on economic methodology was made available to later scholars.

He died in Ifield, Sussex, in 1879.

1822: Considerations on the Accumulation of Capital and its Effects on Profits and on Exchangeable Value. London: G. and W. B. Whittaker.
1823: An Elementary Treatise on Political Economy; or, an Essay on the Science of Wealth, more especially with reference to its production, distribution, and consumption. London: Simpkin and Marshall. (Later editions published, e.g., 1840 as An Elementary Treatise on Political Economy).
1832: Outlines of Political Economy; being a plain and short view of the laws relating to the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth: to which is added, a short explanation of the nature and effects of taxes, and of a few other subjects. London: J. Ridgway.
1853: (Editor) Definitions in Political Economy, preceded by an inquiry into the rules which ought to guide political economists in the definition and use of their terms; with remarks on the deviation from these rules in their writings by T.R. Malthus. London: John Murray.
1859: Thoughts on a Few Subjects of Political Economy. London: Bell & Daldy.

John Cazenove (1788 – 15 January 1879) was an English clergyman and political economist, best known for his staunch support and elucidation of the economic theories of Thomas Robert Malthus. He played a role in the economic debates of the early to mid-19th century, primarily as a popularizer and defender of Malthusian doctrines, particularly concerning population, demand, and the possibility of general gluts.

John Cazenove was born into a family of Huguenot descent, a lineage known for its contributions to British commerce and intellectual life. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1810 and M.A. in 1813. He was ordained in the Church of England and served as a clergyman for much of his life, including as curate of Matching, Essex, and later as vicar of Ifield, Sussex.

Alongside his pastoral duties, Cazenove dedicated considerable intellectual energy to the study and exposition of political economy. He became a close associate and admirer of Thomas Robert Malthus, whose ideas he sought to clarify, defend, and disseminate.

Cazenove's contributions to economics are primarily as an interpreter and advocate of Malthusian thought, rather than as an originator of entirely new theories.

Advocacy of Malthusian Economics:
- Cazenove is primarily remembered in economics as a devoted disciple and interpreter of Thomas Robert Malthus. He consistently supported Malthus's principle of population and, crucially, Malthus's theory of effective demand and the possibility of general gluts (i.e., a general oversupply of goods relative to demand).
- This placed him in opposition to many contemporary classical economists, particularly David Ricardo and his followers, who adhered to Say's Law (the idea that supply creates its own demand, making general gluts impossible).

Editor of Malthus's Definitions in Political Economy
- His most direct and lasting contribution to Malthusian scholarship was his editing and publishing of Malthus's Definitions in Political Economy in 1853. Malthus had left this work in manuscript form at his death in 1834. Cazenove's edition, which included Malthus's original preface and Cazenove's own introductory remarks, helped to preserve and present Malthus's views on the importance of clear definitions for the advancement of economic science.

Works on Political Economy:
- Cazenove authored several works aimed at explaining the principles of political economy, often with a Malthusian inflection. These treatises, such as An Elementary Treatise on Political Economy and Outlines of Political Economy, were intended to make economic principles accessible and to counter what he saw as misunderstandings of Malthus's theories.

Theory of Gluts and Unproductive Consumption:
- Like Malthus, Cazenove was concerned with the possibility of "general gluts" arising from insufficient effective demand. He argued that excessive saving (or "parsimony," as it was then often termed) could lead to a situation where production outstripped consumption, leading to falling profits and economic stagnation.
- Following Malthus, he suggested that "unproductive consumption" – spending by landlords, state functionaries, and others who did not directly engage in commodity production – could play a role in maintaining aggregate demand and preventing gluts.

Capital Accumulation and Profits:
- In his Considerations on the Accumulation of Capital (1822), Cazenove explored the relationship between capital accumulation, profits, and demand. He argued against excessive parsimony if it was not matched by profitable investment opportunities, as this could lead to deficient demand and a fall in the rate of profit. This work reflected the Malthusian concern that the drive to accumulate capital, without sufficient demand for the resulting output, could be self-defeating.

Cazenove's work placed him firmly in the Malthusian camp, often in opposition to the Ricardian school of thought which dominated English political economy for a period. His writings frequently engaged with the arguments of Ricardo, James Mill, J.R. McCulloch, and Jean-Baptiste Say, defending Malthus's positions on value, rent, demand, and the causes of economic distress.

John Cazenove was a minor figure in the pantheon of classical economists, and his influence was primarily as a popularizer and defender of Malthusian economics rather than as an originator of groundbreaking theories. His works are valuable to historians of economic thought for the insights they provide into the Malthusian school of thought, the nuances of Malthus's own theories, and the economic debates of the early to mid-19th century. His careful editing of Malthus's Definitions ensured that this important work on economic methodology was made available to later scholars.

He died in Ifield, Sussex, in 1879.

1822: Considerations on the Accumulation of Capital and its Effects on Profits and on Exchangeable Value. London: G. and W. B. Whittaker.
1823: An Elementary Treatise on Political Economy; or, an Essay on the Science of Wealth, more especially with reference to its production, distribution, and consumption. London: Simpkin and Marshall. (Later editions published, e.g., 1840 as An Elementary Treatise on Political Economy).
1832: Outlines of Political Economy; being a plain and short view of the laws relating to the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth: to which is added, a short explanation of the nature and effects of taxes, and of a few other subjects. London: J. Ridgway.
1853: (Editor) Definitions in Political Economy, preceded by an inquiry into the rules which ought to guide political economists in the definition and use of their terms; with remarks on the deviation from these rules in their writings by T.R. Malthus. London: John Murray.
1859: Thoughts on a Few Subjects of Political Economy. London: Bell & Daldy.

John Cazenove (1788 – 15 January 1879) was an English clergyman and political economist, best known for his staunch support and elucidation of the economic theories of Thomas Robert Malthus. He played a role in the economic debates of the early to mid-19th century, primarily as a popularizer and defender of Malthusian doctrines, particularly concerning population, demand, and the possibility of general gluts.

John Cazenove was born into a family of Huguenot descent, a lineage known for its contributions to British commerce and intellectual life. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1810 and M.A. in 1813. He was ordained in the Church of England and served as a clergyman for much of his life, including as curate of Matching, Essex, and later as vicar of Ifield, Sussex.

Alongside his pastoral duties, Cazenove dedicated considerable intellectual energy to the study and exposition of political economy. He became a close associate and admirer of Thomas Robert Malthus, whose ideas he sought to clarify, defend, and disseminate.

Cazenove's contributions to economics are primarily as an interpreter and advocate of Malthusian thought, rather than as an originator of entirely new theories.

Advocacy of Malthusian Economics:
- Cazenove is primarily remembered in economics as a devoted disciple and interpreter of Thomas Robert Malthus. He consistently supported Malthus's principle of population and, crucially, Malthus's theory of effective demand and the possibility of general gluts (i.e., a general oversupply of goods relative to demand).
- This placed him in opposition to many contemporary classical economists, particularly David Ricardo and his followers, who adhered to Say's Law (the idea that supply creates its own demand, making general gluts impossible).

Editor of Malthus's Definitions in Political Economy
- His most direct and lasting contribution to Malthusian scholarship was his editing and publishing of Malthus's Definitions in Political Economy in 1853. Malthus had left this work in manuscript form at his death in 1834. Cazenove's edition, which included Malthus's original preface and Cazenove's own introductory remarks, helped to preserve and present Malthus's views on the importance of clear definitions for the advancement of economic science.

Works on Political Economy:
- Cazenove authored several works aimed at explaining the principles of political economy, often with a Malthusian inflection. These treatises, such as An Elementary Treatise on Political Economy and Outlines of Political Economy, were intended to make economic principles accessible and to counter what he saw as misunderstandings of Malthus's theories.

Theory of Gluts and Unproductive Consumption:
- Like Malthus, Cazenove was concerned with the possibility of "general gluts" arising from insufficient effective demand. He argued that excessive saving (or "parsimony," as it was then often termed) could lead to a situation where production outstripped consumption, leading to falling profits and economic stagnation.
- Following Malthus, he suggested that "unproductive consumption" – spending by landlords, state functionaries, and others who did not directly engage in commodity production – could play a role in maintaining aggregate demand and preventing gluts.

Capital Accumulation and Profits:
- In his Considerations on the Accumulation of Capital (1822), Cazenove explored the relationship between capital accumulation, profits, and demand. He argued against excessive parsimony if it was not matched by profitable investment opportunities, as this could lead to deficient demand and a fall in the rate of profit. This work reflected the Malthusian concern that the drive to accumulate capital, without sufficient demand for the resulting output, could be self-defeating.

Cazenove's work placed him firmly in the Malthusian camp, often in opposition to the Ricardian school of thought which dominated English political economy for a period. His writings frequently engaged with the arguments of Ricardo, James Mill, J.R. McCulloch, and Jean-Baptiste Say, defending Malthus's positions on value, rent, demand, and the causes of economic distress.

John Cazenove was a minor figure in the pantheon of classical economists, and his influence was primarily as a popularizer and defender of Malthusian economics rather than as an originator of groundbreaking theories. His works are valuable to historians of economic thought for the insights they provide into the Malthusian school of thought, the nuances of Malthus's own theories, and the economic debates of the early to mid-19th century. His careful editing of Malthus's Definitions ensured that this important work on economic methodology was made available to later scholars.

He died in Ifield, Sussex, in 1879.

1822: Considerations on the Accumulation of Capital and its Effects on Profits and on Exchangeable Value. London: G. and W. B. Whittaker.
1823: An Elementary Treatise on Political Economy; or, an Essay on the Science of Wealth, more especially with reference to its production, distribution, and consumption. London: Simpkin and Marshall. (Later editions published, e.g., 1840 as An Elementary Treatise on Political Economy).
1832: Outlines of Political Economy; being a plain and short view of the laws relating to the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth: to which is added, a short explanation of the nature and effects of taxes, and of a few other subjects. London: J. Ridgway.
1853: (Editor) Definitions in Political Economy, preceded by an inquiry into the rules which ought to guide political economists in the definition and use of their terms; with remarks on the deviation from these rules in their writings by T.R. Malthus. London: John Murray.
1859: Thoughts on a Few Subjects of Political Economy. London: Bell & Daldy.