Keynes: Investment theory and practice in comparison with contemporary markets

Keynes is generally studied and recognized for his theories on economics, especially those springing out the General Theory (1936). A lot less known are other interests in his life, like his involvement in financial markets as speculator and investor. The goal of this thesis is to look both at the evolution of Keynes' thought on speculation and investment and at the his style of trading in the market. Finally, looking at the current behaviour of investors as extrapolated through ethnographic studies and interviews, we will try to see whether the mathematical revolution begun with Markowitz has changed completely the landscape, or leaves still room for some of Keynes' lessons.