From the oldest forms of production and economy, that of hunting and gathering, to the present industrial and financial capitalism, humans have sought to obtain goods and services necessary for life through various activities. People create techniques for production and standards for the distribution of goods, as well as organizational forms and institutions within which these production and distribution processes occur. These real developments are the subject of economic history. However, reflecting on these rules, processes, institutions, and organizational forms—let's call it economic thinking—is the other side of the coin. From the contemplation of economic matters and processes, economics gradually emerged, which is still referred to as "Volkswirtschaftslehre" in German-speaking countries, even though the "people" is explicitly not a subject of this discipline.

This book attempts to trace the main lines of development of economic thinking from its written beginnings to the economics of the 20th century and to present the economic-historical conditions of this development.