Georg Friedrich Knapp (German:[knap]; 7 March 1842 – 20 February 1926)[2] was a German economist who in 1905 published The State Theory of Money, which founded the chartalist school of monetary theory, which argues that money's value derives from its issuance by an institutional form of government rather than spontaneously through relations of exchange.
Knapp was born on 7 March 1842. His father was the acclaimed chemist Friedrich Ludwig Knapp.[3] Knapp studied in Munich, Berlin and Göttingen, and in 1867 became director of the Statistical Bureau of Leipzig. In 1869 he was appointed assistant professor of economics and statistics in the University of Leipzig.[4] In 1874 he was appointed a professor of political economy at the University of Strasbourg, where he remained until 1918. He was also rector at Strasbourg in 1891–1892 and 1907–1908.[5]
In 1886, he founded the periodical Abhandlungen aus dem staatswissenschaftlichen Seminar zu Strassburg.[6]
He raised his two daughters alone, uncommon at the time, after their Georgian-born mother, Knapp's wife Lydia v. Karganow,[3] became mentally ill.
The State Theory of Moneyedit
The State Theory of Money, a 1924 English translation of Staatliche Theorie des Geldes.
Knapp is mostly remembered for this book which was partially translated into English by the Royal Economic Society and published for the first time in the United Kingdom in 1924, nineteen years after its first publication in German.[7]
The State Theory of Money sets about to build a theory which could encompass indifferent monetary systems based on precious metals or paper money. Knapp's approach is naturalistic. As a theorist, he does not want to recommend what the monetary ought to be, nor does he explore how money could be put to use in order to attain certain goals. Drawing almost entirely on examples set in 19th century Europe, he derives from them a genetic and then a functional classification. In the process, the book reveals that some of what had been previously thought to be 'specie' money, was simply what he calls 'chartal hylogenic money'. An avowed Chartalist, Knapp does not advocate paper money pure and simple, he points out effectively that the Metallists with their theory cannot effectively explain some observed phenomena which they call 'anomalies'. To the contrary, Knapp thinks his theory is able to explain the manifold monetary systems mentioned in the book. Apart from its theoretical insights, the book is particularly interesting in that it is a very detailed source of information on 19th century European monetary history, focusing on the following countries: England, France, Holland, Austria and Germany. Due to a lack of financial means, the Royal Economic Society voluntary omitted the translation of Chapter IV which contains a historical review of England, France, Germany, Austria, and appendices containing specific case studies. All the same, even in its abridged English version The State Theory of Money depicts precisely the many changes which happened during the course of the 19th century: a general move from bimetallism to monometallism, the appearance and disappearance of paper money systems (in particular the Austrian one of 1866), the almost systematic use of paper money by the State in case of war alongside existing means of payment, the emergence of bank-notes and the use of Giro payments etc.
Publicationsedit
His earlier writings deal chiefly with population and agricultural topics.
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1865). Zur Prüfung der Untersuchungen Thünen's über Lohn und Zinsfuss im isolirten Staate (in German). Braunschweig: Friedrich Vieweg und Sohn.
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1868). Über die Ermittlung der Sterblichkeit (in German). Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs’sche Buchhandlung. ("On the ascertainment of mortality").
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1869). Die Sterblichkeit in Sachsen (in German). Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot. ("Mortality in Saxony").
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1871). Die neuern Ansichten über Moralstatistik (in German). Jena: Verlag von Friedrich Mauke.
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1874). Theorie des Bevölkerungs-Wechsels: Abhandlungen zur angewandten Mathematik (in German). Braunschweig: Verlag von Friedrich Vieweg und Sohn. ("The theory of population fluctuations").
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1887). Die Bauern-Befreiung und der Ursprung der Landarbeiter in den älteren Theilen Preußens (in German). Vol. I. Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot. ("The liberation of peasants and the origins of the agriculturalist in the older parts of Prussia").
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1887). Die Bauern-Befreiung und der Ursprung der Landarbeiter in den älteren Theilen Preußens (in German). Vol. II. Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot. ("The liberation of peasants and the origins of the agriculturalist in the older parts of Prussia").
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1891). Die Landarbeiter in Knechtschaft und Freiheit: vier Vorträge (in German). Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot. ("The farmer in serfdom and freedom").
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1905). Staatliche Theorie des Geldes (in German) (1 ed.). Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot.
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1918). Staatliche Theorie des Geldes (in German) (2 ed.). Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot.
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1921). Staatliche Theorie des Geldes (in German) (3 ed.). Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot.
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1923). Staatliche Theorie des Geldes (in German) (4 ed.). Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot.
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1924). Die staatliche Theorie des Geldes [The State Theory of Money] (PDF). Translated by Lucas, H. M.; Bonar, J. London: Macmillian & Company. Translation of the fourth edition.
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1897). Grundherrschaft und Rittergut: Vorträge, nebst biographischen Beilagen (in German). Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot. ("Land ownership and seignorial lands").
Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1925). Einführung in einige Hauptgebiete der Nationalökonomie (in German). Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot.
^Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900 By Theodore M. Porter p 187
^ abOrden Pour le Mérite für Wissenschaften und Künste, ed. (1978). (PDF) (in German). Vol. II (1822—1952). Berlin: Gebr. Mann Verlag. ISBN3-7861-1125-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2020.
^ abcBraeuer, Walter (1980), "Knapp, Georg Friedrich", Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 12, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 152–153; (full text online)
^"Prof. Dr. phil. Georg Friedrich Knapp". Catalogus Professorum Lipsiensium (in German). University of Leipzig. from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^"Abhandlungen aus dem Staatswissenschaftlichen Seminar zu Straßburg". De Gruyter. from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
^Knapp, Georg Friedrich (1924). The State Theory of Money. Translated by Lucas, H.M.; Bonar, J. London: Macmillan and Co. Limited. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Internet Archive.
Georg Friedrich Knapp at McMaster University Archive for the History of Economic Thought.
Cannan, Edwin (1927). "Knapp's Bubble". An Economist's Protest. London: P.S. King & Son, Ltd. pp. 398-403. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Internet Archive.
georg, friedrich, knapp, german, knap, march, 1842, february, 1926, german, economist, 1905, published, state, theory, money, which, founded, chartalist, school, monetary, theory, which, argues, that, money, value, derives, from, issuance, institutional, form,. Georg Friedrich Knapp German knap 7 March 1842 20 February 1926 2 was a German economist who in 1905 published The State Theory of Money which founded the chartalist school of monetary theory which argues that money s value derives from its issuance by an institutional form of government rather than spontaneously through relations of exchange Georg Friedrich KnappGeorg Friedrich KnappBorn 1842 03 07 7 March 1842Giessen Grand Duchy of HesseDied20 February 1926 1926 02 20 aged 83 Darmstadt Hesse GermanyNationalityGermanAcademic careerInstitutionUniversity of StrasbourgFieldMonetary economics statisticsSchool ortraditionChartalism Historical school of economicsInfluencesFerdinand Lassalle 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Family 3 The State Theory of Money 4 Publications 5 Honours 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksBiography editKnapp was born on 7 March 1842 His father was the acclaimed chemist Friedrich Ludwig Knapp 3 Knapp studied in Munich Berlin and Gottingen and in 1867 became director of the Statistical Bureau of Leipzig In 1869 he was appointed assistant professor of economics and statistics in the University of Leipzig 4 In 1874 he was appointed a professor of political economy at the University of Strasbourg where he remained until 1918 He was also rector at Strasbourg in 1891 1892 and 1907 1908 5 In 1886 he founded the periodical Abhandlungen aus dem staatswissenschaftlichen Seminar zu Strassburg 6 Family editKnapp was the father of Elly Heuss Knapp the future wife of Theodor Heuss the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany 3 He raised his two daughters alone uncommon at the time after their Georgian born mother Knapp s wife Lydia v Karganow 3 became mentally ill The State Theory of Money edit nbsp The State Theory of Money a 1924 English translation of Staatliche Theorie des Geldes Knapp is mostly remembered for this book which was partially translated into English by the Royal Economic Society and published for the first time in the United Kingdom in 1924 nineteen years after its first publication in German 7 The State Theory of Money sets about to build a theory which could encompass indifferent monetary systems based on precious metals or paper money Knapp s approach is naturalistic As a theorist he does not want to recommend what the monetary ought to be nor does he explore how money could be put to use in order to attain certain goals Drawing almost entirely on examples set in 19th century Europe he derives from them a genetic and then a functional classification In the process the book reveals that some of what had been previously thought to be specie money was simply what he calls chartal hylogenic money An avowed Chartalist Knapp does not advocate paper money pure and simple he points out effectively that the Metallists with their theory cannot effectively explain some observed phenomena which they call anomalies To the contrary Knapp thinks his theory is able to explain the manifold monetary systems mentioned in the book Apart from its theoretical insights the book is particularly interesting in that it is a very detailed source of information on 19th century European monetary history focusing on the following countries England France Holland Austria and Germany Due to a lack of financial means the Royal Economic Society voluntary omitted the translation of Chapter IV which contains a historical review of England France Germany Austria and appendices containing specific case studies All the same even in its abridged English version The State Theory of Money depicts precisely the many changes which happened during the course of the 19th century a general move from bimetallism to monometallism the appearance and disappearance of paper money systems in particular the Austrian one of 1866 the almost systematic use of paper money by the State in case of war alongside existing means of payment the emergence of bank notes and the use of Giro payments etc Publications editHis earlier writings deal chiefly with population and agricultural topics Knapp Georg Friedrich 1865 Zur Prufung der Untersuchungen Thunen s uber Lohn und Zinsfuss im isolirten Staate in German Braunschweig Friedrich Vieweg und Sohn Knapp Georg Friedrich 1868 Uber die Ermittlung der Sterblichkeit in German Leipzig J C Hinrichs sche Buchhandlung On the ascertainment of mortality Knapp Georg Friedrich 1869 Die Sterblichkeit in Sachsen in German Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot Mortality in Saxony Knapp Georg Friedrich 1871 Die neuern Ansichten uber Moralstatistik in German Jena Verlag von Friedrich Mauke Knapp Georg Friedrich 1874 Theorie des Bevolkerungs Wechsels Abhandlungen zur angewandten Mathematik in German Braunschweig Verlag von Friedrich Vieweg und Sohn The theory of population fluctuations Knapp Georg Friedrich 1887 Die Bauern Befreiung und der Ursprung der Landarbeiter in den alteren Theilen Preussens in German Vol I Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot The liberation of peasants and the origins of the agriculturalist in the older parts of Prussia Knapp Georg Friedrich 1887 Die Bauern Befreiung und der Ursprung der Landarbeiter in den alteren Theilen Preussens in German Vol II Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot The liberation of peasants and the origins of the agriculturalist in the older parts of Prussia Knapp Georg Friedrich 1891 Die Landarbeiter in Knechtschaft und Freiheit vier Vortrage in German Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot The farmer in serfdom and freedom Knapp Georg Friedrich 1905 Staatliche Theorie des Geldes in German 1 ed Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot Knapp Georg Friedrich 1918 Staatliche Theorie des Geldes in German 2 ed Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot Knapp Georg Friedrich 1921 Staatliche Theorie des Geldes in German 3 ed Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot Knapp Georg Friedrich 1923 Staatliche Theorie des Geldes in German 4 ed Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot Knapp Georg Friedrich 1924 Die staatliche Theorie des Geldes The State Theory of Money PDF Translated by Lucas H M Bonar J London Macmillian amp Company Translation of the fourth edition Knapp Georg Friedrich 1897 Grundherrschaft und Rittergut Vortrage nebst biographischen Beilagen in German Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot Land ownership and seignorial lands Knapp Georg Friedrich 1925 Einfuhrung in einige Hauptgebiete der Nationalokonomie in German Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot Honours editPour le Merite for Sciences and Arts 24 January 1918 2 See also editFiat money vs commodity money Modern Monetary Theory KeynesianismReferences edit Rise of Statistical Thinking 1820 1900 By Theodore M Porter p 187 a b Orden Pour le Merite fur Wissenschaften und Kunste ed 1978 Die Mitglieder des Ordens PDF in German Vol II 1822 1952 Berlin Gebr Mann Verlag ISBN 3 7861 1125 1 Archived from the original PDF on 6 December 2020 a b c Braeuer Walter 1980 Knapp Georg Friedrich Neue Deutsche Biographie in German vol 12 Berlin Duncker amp Humblot pp 152 153 full text online Rines George Edwin ed 1920 Knapp George Friedrich Encyclopedia Americana Prof Dr phil Georg Friedrich Knapp Catalogus Professorum Lipsiensium in German University of Leipzig Archived from the original on 6 December 2020 Retrieved 6 December 2020 Abhandlungen aus dem Staatswissenschaftlichen Seminar zu Strassburg De Gruyter Archived from the original on 6 December 2020 Retrieved 6 December 2020 Knapp Georg Friedrich 1924 The State Theory of Money Translated by Lucas H M Bonar J London Macmillan and Co Limited Retrieved 1 September 2023 via Internet Archive External links editGeorg Friedrich Knapp at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons nbsp Texts from Wikisource nbsp Data from Wikidata Georg Friedrich Knapp at McMaster University Archive for the History of Economic Thought Cannan Edwin 1927 Knapp s Bubble An Economist s Protest London P S King amp Son Ltd pp 398 403 Retrieved 1 September 2023 via Internet Archive Newspaper clippings about Georg Friedrich Knapp in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Georg Friedrich Knapp amp oldid 1174746925, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
