Walras's Market Models

Description

Walras's Market Models describes and evaluates Leon Walras's models of competitive markets. Through identification of his career phases and the associated general equilibrium models, which are shown to be very different in character, this book differs from previous examinations of his work. During his mature phase of theoretical activity, Walras was concerned with a competitive economy which passes through a phase of disequilibrium in the production and sales of commodities. While in his last phase of theoretical activity, he developed a model in which there is no production, sales, hiring, consuming or saving until an assumed set of equilibrium prices obtains of the model. The two phases of Walras's theoretical work have not previously been identified, and the models have not been subjected to an accurate analysis and evaluation.

'If prizes are given in the history of economic thought ... one ought to go to Donald Walker ... Walker's arguments are very convincing ... Those who are interested in knowing about the detailed analysis of Walras' own models should read and appreciate Walker's contribution.' The Economic Journal