The Origins of Mathematical Economics Calculus and Price Theory

Short Description
Calculus and Price Theory. Joint Doctoral Program, Université Paris X - Nanterre (France) and J.W. Goethe-Universität. Frankfurt am Main (Germany). …

Website: economix.u-paris10.fr | Filesize: 21kb

Content
1
Paola Tubaro
Doctoral dissertation
The Origins of Mathematical Economics:
Calculus and Price Theory
Joint Doctoral Program, Université Paris X - Nanterre (France) and J.W. Goethe-Universit?
Frankfurt am Main (Germany).
Thesis Committee: Prof. Carlo Benetti (Supervisor, Université Paris X, France); Prof. Pascal
Bridel (Chair, Université de Lausanne, Suisse); Prof. Rodolphe Dos Santos Ferreira (Referee,
Université Louis Pasteur - Strasbourg I, France); Prof. Rainer Klump (Referee, J.W. Goethe-
Universit? Frankfurt am Main, Germany); Prof. Bertram Schefold (Supervisor, J.W. Goethe-
Universit? Frankfurt am Main, Germany); Prof. Paul Bernd Spahn (J.W. Goethe-Universit?
Frankfurt am Main, Germany).
Oral defense: Université Paris X, November 8, 2004.
Final grade: Summa cum laude. The thesis has been recommended for publication and for a
dissertation prize.2
Introduction
My dissertation on The Origins of Mathematical Economics: Calculus and Price Theory is a
work in the subfield of the history of economic thought, although the basic motivation comes
from questions that today’s economics has left open.
In fact, my dissertation addresses the very hallmarks of modern economic theory, namely
optimization at individual and competitive equilibrium at aggregate levels, by raising the
question of the relationship between them: how can individual economic behavior explain the
macro states of an economic system? In particular, how do consumers’ and firms’ choices
give rise to market supply and demand functions, ultimately responsible for price formation?
The problem is that, despite the emphasis that today’s economists place on the need for
micro- foundations, the linkages between individual optimization and its aggregate outcomes
are still far from clear-cut.
Adopting a history of economic thought perspective seemed to me a useful way to deal with
such broad issues. One purpose of this approach was to revisit today’s models, by taking into
account a broad perspective, including the influence of philosophical currents of thought or of
discoveries in the other sciences -especially the natural sciences. In this way, I aimed to
contribute to…