Joan Robinson's Influential Background

Joan Robinson was born into a colonial family in Imperial Britain in 1903, making her a remarkable figure in a traditionally male-dominated field. She studied economics at Cambridge’s Girton College, where women were forbidden from earning degrees at the time. Her intellectual journey began to flourish after marrying fellow economist Austin Robinson, leading her to pivotal experiences in India that shaped her economic perspective. Upon returning to Cambridge, she emerged as a significant contributor to the economic discourse, particularly within the circle of John Maynard Keynes, demonstrating her ability to navigate and thrive in a challenging academic environment.