These lectures provide a foundation for a completely new approach to the science of economics. Steiner does not give abstract theories but bases his ideas on the dynamics inherent in the phenomena themselves. A mobile, flexible quality of thinking is required to enter into this radically different approach to such things as capital, labor, and natural resources, and the qualitative differences between purchase, loan, and gift money. The direction Steiner indicated in these lectures is the inspiration for a number of banking and financial initiatives now active all over the world.

These Economic Course lectures are the entire contents of the lecture series entitled, World Economy, published in German as, Nationaloekonomischer Kurs. Aufgaben einer neuen Wirtschaftswissenschaft, Band I. They were translation by Owen Barfield and T. Gordon-Jones.

This volume is presented here with the kind permission of the Rudolf Steiner Nachlassverwaltung, Dornach, Switzerland. From Bn 340, GA 340.