John Kenneth Galbraith Biography

John Kenneth Galbraith was a very famous American economist best remembered for his prophetic commentary on the country’s political follies and for predicting the probable consequences of corporate greed and deregulated markets. He had an active interest in politics and was a loyal Democratic who served in the administrations of Franklin D Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and John F. Kennedy. During the Kennedy administration he had been the United States Ambassador to India. He studied agricultural economics in college and became a member of the faculty at the Harvard University where he taught for over five decades. The economist cum diplomat was a prolific writer and is regarded as the most widely read author on economics. His books have consistently been topping the best-sellers list starting from the 1950s all through the 2000s. His witty commentary, outspokenness and humorous way of bringing serious matters into perspective make him a much loved author. As an economist he was a believer in Keynesian philosophy and had tutored Adlai E. Stevenson, the Democratic nominee for president during 1952 and 1956 on Keynesian economics. For decades, "the best-known economist in the world" helped to redefine the way Americans understood economics and influenced the thinking of the Democratic Party leaders.