Austrian – a radically individualist school of free-market economics, it has often been cited in connection with Tea Party opposition to big government in recent years. It remains controversial, but many ideas and observations from Austrian school economists have become mainstream and influential.
Classical – the world of political economy, as it used to be known. This is the foundations of economics. Writers such as Adam Smith, David Ricardo or Robert Malthus first articulated the theories of markets and comparative advantage.
Developmental – though you could trace aspects of development economics back to the late medieval era, it is most readily associated with developing countries from the 1950s. It’s a branch of economics rather than a formal school, and deals specifically with raising productivity and growth.
Distributist – inspired by Catholic teaching, Distributists argue for a middle way between capitalism and socialism. They believe in private property shared widely, in guilds and co-ops, and the family as the key unit in society.
Ecological – emerged in the last fifty years or so and sees the economy as inseparably connected to the environment. Ecological economics puts a new importance on energy and resources, and argues for environmental accounting and sustainable development.
Feminist – attempts to redress imbalances by addressing blind spots in economics, including gender inequality. Ideas around care and unpaid work, work time, or measuring wellbeing are increasingly influential.
Islamic – A tradition that stretches back over a thousand years, Islamic economics is a distinct philosophy within the discipline. It is broadly pro-poor, arguing for taxes on wealth rather than trade, a ban on interest, and full reserve banking.
Institutionalist – suggests that institutions play a larger role – whether that is formal structures or customs and traditions. Institutionalists rgues that economics is part of evolving culture rather than strictly rational individuals.
Keynesian – rising to prominence during the Great Depression, Keynes looked at demand rather than supply, and argued for government intervention to moderate the business cycle and recession, inventing macroeconomics in the process.
Neoclassical – drawing on the fathers of economics, the neo-classicists distilled market principles around the idea of self-interested individuals, and take individuals and their exchanges as the foundation of economics. Neo-classsical thought emerged in the Victorian era, but remains strong today on both left and right.
Marxist – focuses on the means of production, and who controls it and benefits from it. For Marx, and the many thinkers who have elaborated on his initial work, society is primarily about class rather than individuals and their choices.
Schumpeterian – Building on German historical traditions and Marx, Joseph Schumpeter’s influential idea was to outline a much bigger role for innovation and technological advance as a driver of change.
— source makewealthhistory.org