Studies in the History of French Political Economy

This book considers the evolution of economic thought in France from the sixteenth to twentieth century and explores the key economists, themes and controversies which are important in the context of recent research.
This collection of essays considers the evolution of economic thought in France. The period covered is vast, extending from the 16th to the 20th century. The aim is to bring to the forefront those economists, themes and controversies which are important in the context of recent research, and about which new ideas can be developed. The contributors consider economists such as Galiani, Necker, Turgot, Say, Sismondi, Dupuit, Walras, and Bicquilley - a recently discovered, historically important economist. The themes explored include: Law's system; the application of mathematics and probability theory to economics; the debates on the transition to a market economy; the "science des affaires", the spread of marginalist economics and Walras' monetary theory.