[southernmissouri2007]

Who came up with the idea that Infrastructure Spending and Jobs could help the Economy was it FDR I don't think that it was Keynes because FDR rejected Keyne's ideas does anyone know thanks ?

As mentioned above, Keynes' advice on ending the Great Depression was rejected. President Roosevelt tried countless other approaches, all of which failed. Almost all economists agree that World War II cured the Great Depression; Keynesians believe this was so because the U.S. finally began massive public spending on defense. This is a large part of the reason why "wars are good for the economy." Although no one knows the full secret to economic growth (the world's top economists are still working on this mystery), wars are an economic boon in part because governments always resort to Keynesian spending during them. Of course, such spending need not be directed only towards war -- social programs are much more preferable.

http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/Keynesianism.htm

[Paradigm]

It's an interesting question, but it's the wrong one to ask. The better question would be to find the first economist to reject the idea that government should spend on infrastructure. Ever since the earliest economic writings we have, the economic role of infrastructure has been recognized. But to give you gist of it, here's Adam Smith:

After the public institutions and public works necessary for the defence of the society, and for the administration of justice, both of which have already been mentioned, the other works and institutions of this kind are chiefly those for facilitating the commerce of the society, and those for promoting the instruction of the people.

The object of the public works and institutions above mentioned is to facilitate commerce in general. But in order to facilitate some particular branches of it, particular institutions are necessary, which again require a particular and extraordinary expense.

[redcarpet]

Charles the 1st in Britain, Middle Ages probably the earliest!

[Wolfman]

It was also used heavily by the Akkadians before Rome. This is an old idea, and I've already told that to this poster.

[Negotiator]

Oh, I dont think Roosevelt failed at all. The New Deal, in the end, cause the economic strength the USA reached about 30 years later.

The crisis of 1929 didnt occured overnight. It was a reaction to a long economic development before this point. Thus its not surprising recovering from it took a long while, too.