Ivan vernadskyy

(1821–1884)

Ivan Vernadskyy can be considered as a representative of the classical school of economics in Ukraine. He was the first of the three famous scholars to bear that surname. He was the father of Volodymyr (1863–1945), a world-known geochemist and the first president of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. Volodymyr’s son, George (1887–1973), was a well-known specialist of Russian history at Yale University.

Ivan Vernadskyy was born on May 24, 1821 into the family of a physician in Kyiv (his mother was from the Korolenko line of Ukrainian Cossack nobility). At Kyiv University he studied philosophy and Slavic philology. After graduating with honours, he was offered a stipend to pursue political economy, which he accepted and travelled to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and England. He defended his Master’s thesis at St. Petersburg University in 1847. After a two-year stint teaching in Kyiv, he entered Moscow University and in 1849 completed a Doctoral dissertation on Italian economic theory. Two years later he secured a full professorship and taught political economy.

In 1857 he was called to St. Petersburg to serve as an advisor to the Imperial Ministry of Internal Affairs. That year he also published and edited the newspaper “Economic Index” and in 1859, the journal Economist. His contributions were marked by a commitment to a laissez-faire approach to economics and liberalism in social issues. For a time, the “EI” was published at the printing house owned by P. Kulish. Through P. Kulish, he met T. Shevchenko and Kvitka Osnovyanenko, as well as the historian M. Maksymovych.

I. Vernadskyy’s publications served as the epicentre of the establishment’s ruminations over the abolition of serfdom (which came in 1861). He believed that the newly emancipated serfs should be afforded total economic and social freedom and a loosening of the fetters of “obshchini” (collective communities).

I. Vernadskyy also argued for the economic emancipation of women: he supported allowing them into the labour force and championed their rights to equal pay. I. Vernadskyy’s periodicals took strong stands against anti-Semitism and the havoc caused in the environment by the rapid pace of industrialisation and urbanisation.

In 1868 he was forced to leave St. Petersburg because of a heart condition and chose to travel to Kharkiv, where he became director of the State Bank’s local branch. Upon his retirement in 1876 he returned to St. Petersburg, where he died on March 27, 1884.

To sum up, I. Vernadskyy was a persistent and staunch admirer of the laisser-faire economic doctrine and liberalism in politics, and presented his views cogently and eloquently. Being a true child of the nineteenth century, I. Vernadskyy had faith in the perfectibility of human conditions. He concluded that this improvement would not come soon, but it can be said with certainty that the key toward the solution has been found [by economics] in terms of methodology and analysis of the basic laws of production.

Task 6. Read the text “Hryhoriy Tsekhanovetskyy” and translate it.

Task 7. Find answers to the following questions in the text and write them down:

1. What was H. Tsekhanovetskyy?

2. Where did he get his education?

3. What was H. Tsekhanovetskyy’s contribution to the study of the history of economic thought in Ukraine?

4. What did H. Tsekhanovetskyy analyze in the monograph on Adam Smith?

5. Was H. Tsekhanovetskyy in favour of the ideas by A. Smith?

6. Which of them did he attack? Why?

7. What was H. Tsekhanovetskyy’s approach to the study of economics?

8. How did he argue his point of view?

Task 8. Pick up and write down all the international words you can find in the text.

Task 9. Say whether the following statements are true or false. If a statement is false, correct it using information from the text:

1. H. Tsekhanovetskyy was a representative of the classical school of economics in Ukraine.

2. From 1873 until his death he was a professor of economics at Kharkiv University.

3. Under his guidance, a number of students at Kyiv University worked for their Master’s and Doctoral degrees.

4. H.Tsekhanovetskyy published many scientific works.

5. H.Tsekhanovetskyy supported all the ideas of A. Smith.

6. H. Tsekhanovetskyy criticised Smith’s generalisation of human behaviour.

7. A. Smith’s idea that unrestricted human behaviour toward self-improvement would lead at the same time to the benefit of all appears to H. Tsekhanovetskyy also to be susceptible to criticism.

8. H. Tsekhanovetskyy accepted complete non-intervention of the government in economic life.

9. He was against the various proposals of mercantilists, protectio­nists and socialists who wished to make government responsible for all or for most economic decisions.

10. H. Tsekhanovetskyy stated that historical approach in economics was like anatomy and physiology in medicine.

11. According to H. Tsekhanovetskyy, political economy and other social sciences rejected the historical method.

Task 10. Compose a summary of the text in 80 words.

HRYHORIY TSEKHANOVETSKYY

(1833–1898)

The older historical school in Ukraine can be represented by Hryhoriy Tsekhanovetskyy. Born in Chernihiv province, H. Tsekha­novetskyy was educated at Kyiv University, from which he obtained Master’ and Doctoral degrees in 1859 and 1869, respectively. Between 1859 and 1872 he was a faculty member at Kyiv University; from 1873 until his death, a professor of economics at Kharkiv University. Between 1881 and 1884, he served as Rector of this University. During his career H. Tsekhanovetskyy had the opportunity to make three study tours of Western European universities. He was a thoughtful and conscientious lecturer and under his guidance, a number of students at Kharkiv University worked for their Master’s and Doctoral degrees.

H. Tsekhanovetskyy did not publish much. Of his works only two are available in the West and only a monograph on Adam Smith is of certain interest to the study of the history of economic thought in Ukraine. In the monograph on Adam Smith H. Tsekhanovetskyy analyzes critically some of the most important components of the teachings of the father of modern economics. For example, he attacks the following three premises by A. Smith: (1) people are motivated in their economic life solely by self-interest; (2) by pursuing self-improvement, people contribute at the same time to the benefit of the entire society; and (3) in order to facilitate the attainment of these two objectives, government should abstain from any interference in the economic affairs of a nation.

Discussing the first point, H. Tsekhanovetskyy criticises Smith’s generalisation of human behaviour: “Speaking about the individual as a producer, A. Smith does not distinguish national characteristics among people, does not see historical differences among them, assumes that all human beings are similar to one another”.

A. Smith’s idea that unrestricted human behaviour toward self-improvement will lead at the same time to the benefit of all appears to H. Tsekhanovetskyy also to be susceptible to criticism. In addition to antisocial traits within some individuals, most people entering into economic relations with others try to improve themselves not only through their own labour, but also at the expense of others. H. Tsekhanovetskyy rejects the notion that such social behaviour is transitory and should disappear with economic development.

While rejecting complete non-intervention of the government in economic life (point 3 above), H. Tsekhanovetskyy opposes also the other extreme; he is against the various proposals of mercantilists, protectionists and socialists (whom he calls utopians) who wish to make government responsible for all or for most economic decisions.

Having disagreed with the classical approach to the study of economics, H. Tsekhanovetskyy expresses his preference for the historical approach. He states that this approach in economics is like anatomy and physiology in medicine: Only a historical study of economics can suggest the appropriate cure for social and economic ills. According to H. Tsekhanovetskyy, political economy and other social sciences accepted the historical method, which can be called experimental to a higher degree because it looks at a phenomenon not a given moment of time, but in the fullness of its historical development and consequently comprehends life … better.

Task 11. Read the text “Stepan Zlupko” and translate it.

Task 12. Find answers to the following questions in the text and write them down:

1. Where was S. Zlupko born?

2. When was he born?

3. What do you know about his career?

4. What are the research achievements of S. Zlupko characterised by?

5. What was the life credo of the scholar?

6. What do you think were the most important events in his life?

7. Which of the following numbers and dates are associated with this person? What do they refer to?

15th 1996 750 50th 1931 20th 2006 26th 2004 1991 1st

Task 13. Say whether the following statements are true or false. If a statement is false, correct it using information from the text:

1. S. Zlupko was a man of courageous character, sincerity of heart and talent.

2. He was a researcher in geology, professor of three universities.

3. The National Academy of Sciences of the USA awarded S. Zlupko the M.Tuhan-Baranovskyy prise on 20 March, 1996.

4. The International Centre in Cambridge included his name in its edition of the “First Five Hundred prominent people” of the world.

5. The way to the stars was quite easy.

6. The style of his works was rather difficult.

7. His lectures were listened to with great interest not only by students but also by all the interested audience.

8. Professor S. Zlupko participated in many scientific conferences, symposia and seminars.

9. Professor S. Zlupko was well known only in the USA.

10. His name has been included in reference-books and encyclopaedias.

Task 14. Compose a summary of the text in 80 words.

STEPAN ZLUPKO

(1931–2006)

The long awaited freedom, gained with difficulty, was enjoyed, together with everybody, by our contemporary – a man of courageous character, sincerity of heart and talent – Syepan Zlupko (born on 15 July, 1931 in the village of Dorozhiv near Drohobych). He was a researcher in economy, professor of three universities: Ivan Franko State University in Lviv, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the Ukrainian Free University in Munich, Germany. Only now, in the independent Ukraine – he became the head of M. Tuhan-Baranovskyy Department of Economy of Ukraine, it was only under the conditions of the free state that the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine awarded S. Zlupko the M. Tuhan-Baranovskyy prise on 20 March, 1996.

But not only the Motherland acknowledged the merits of this scholar. He is honoured by the whole scholarly world. S. Zlupko was awarded a prise by the American Biographic Institute for the devotion to science and faithfulness to human ideals. The International Centre in Cambridge included his name in its edition of the “First Five Hundred prominent people” of the world and chose him as man of the year. But the way to the stars was long and thorny. Work, everyday work – this was the life credo of the scholar – professor S. Zlupko.

In the year of 2006 the professor celebrated the 50^th anniversary of his pedagogical and research activity. During this period he published 750 research and popular-scientific works on topical economic issues, which are a significant innovatory contribution to economy.

1. Economy of Ukraine (economic thought, history of economy, national economy);

2. Economy of labour resources and employment (demo-economy, labour potential);

3. Ecology (mutual action of ecological-economic systems, their organisation and mechanism of functioning);

4. The application of systemic-cybernetics method in the research of the labour potential, the creation of labour market.

The research achievement of S. Zlupko is characterised by the width of theoretical generalisations, democratic direction and emotio­nality. His works are written in an easy, popular style that is why they are understandable even for people without economic education. His lectures were listened to with great interest. They enjoyed wide popularity. Students were happy to have professor S. Zlupko as a scientific supervisor.

Professor S. Zlupko was a participant of many scientific conferen­ces, symposia and seminars. He was well known in the USA, Canada, Germany, Britain, Nigeria and many other countries of the world. His name has been included in reference-books and encyclopaedias. That is the acknowledgement of his academic achievement and authority.