A Study of Industrial Fluctuation

work by Robertson

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Sir Dennis Holme Robertson's work, A Study of Industrial Fluctuation (1915), primarily focused on the business cycle. Robertson emphasized the role of real economic forces, particularly the interplay between invention and investment, in driving these fluctuations. While initially a supporter of John Maynard Keynes, Robertson later developed criticisms of Keynes's theories, particularly concerning saving and investment dynamics. His work contributed to the understanding of economic cycles, exploring how industrial changes and investment patterns influence economic activity over time. The broader concept of the business cycle involves periodic fluctuations in economic activity, including employment, prices, and production.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Sir Dennis Holme Robertson
Robertson’s first book, A Study of Industrial Fluctuation (1915), emphasized real rather than monetary forces, especially the interaction of invention and investment, in the trade cycle. However, in Money (1922), he turned his attention to monetary forces. Like Keynes, he maintained that government policy should attempt to stabilize…
Read More
Robertson’s first book, A Study of Industrial Fluctuation (1915), emphasized real rather than monetary forces, especially the interaction of invention and investment, in the trade cycle. However, in Money (1922), he turned his attention to monetary forces. Like Keynes, he maintained that government policy should attempt to stabilize…
Read More