Papers Relating to Political Economy
Francis Ysidro Edgeworth

(1925)

Ympeccable Ysidro

[Note:This is a full electronic copy of Francis Ysidro Edgeworth's (1925) Papers Relating to Political Economy (3 volumes), originally published in London by Macmillan for the Royal Economic Society.  These volumes were converted into electronic image format by the Gallica website of the Bibliothèque nationale de France.  To make them easier to access, these files have been rearranged here so that every individual essay in the collection can be downloaded as a single PDF file. Unfortunately, this text is not searchable, but the  index is provided and page numbers noted.   The titles, descriptions and ordering of the essays are exactly as contained on Edgeworth's own 1925 table of contents.  Comments enclosed in bold brackets, e.g.  [Note: ...] have been added by us.  We have tried to double-check on the original publication date and source of each of these essays.

To cite the electronic version, a note ought to be appended crediting Bibliothèque nationale de France's Gallica website (http://gallica.bnf.fr/) as source.]


F.Y. Edgeworth, Papers Relating to Political Economy (1925) - Contents

For other works of Edgeworth, see our Francis Ysidro Edgeworth profile,  See also our survey of Edgeworthian Exchange


 

PAPERS RELATING TO POLITICAL ECONOMY
- VOLUME I -

INTRODUCTION [1924], p.vii-ix

SECTION I. - VALUE-AND-DISTRIBUTION


A. THE OBJECTS AND METHODS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, p.3-12
 An inaugural lecture delivered at Oxford, 1891.  

[Note: originally, "An Introductory Lecture in Political Economy", Economic Journal, 1891]

B. THE THEORY OF DISTRIBUTION, p. 13-60
A critical survey of the distribution of products among the agents of production as affected by competition and Collective Bargaining.

[Note: from Quarterly Journal of Economics, 1904]

C. LAWS OF INCREASING AND DIMINISHING RETURNS, p.61-99
An examination of the conceptions proposed for the definition of these terms and the propositions into which the terms enter. 

[Note: originally "Contributions to the Theory of Railway Rates, Parts I & II", Economic Journal, 1911.  See essays G and h.]

D. DIFFERENTIAL PRICES IN A REGIME OF COMPETITION, p. 100-107
A discussion of the dialectical question whereby theoretically the modification of a purely competitive regime by the introduction of some monopolistic discrimination of prices might prove beneficial to both consumers and producers.

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1911]

SECTION II. - MONOPOLY

E. THE PURE THEORY OF MONOPOLY, p. 111-142
A general view of economic equilibrium and incidence of taxation in a regime of monopoly; differing in an essential point from Cournot's theory.

[Note: originally in Italian, "La teoria pura del monopolio", Giornale degli Economisti, 1897.  Original English version lost.  Translated back to English, 1925.]

F. PROFESSOR SELIGMAN ON THE THEORY OF MONOPOLY, p.143-171
A defence of the mathematical theory.

[Note
: originally, "Professor Seligman on the Mathematical Method in Political Economy", Economic Journal, 1899 (not 1897!).  See E.R.A. Seligman profile.]

G. RAILWAY RATES, p.172-191
Application of mathematical reasoning to some railway problems, especially those connected with discrimination.

[Note: originally  "Contributions to the Theory of Railway Rates, Part III", Economic Journal, 1912.  See essays C and h.]


SECTION III. - MONEY

H. MEASUREMENT OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF MONEY, p. 195-297
On Index-Numbers of prices-their conception, construction, purposes and varieties.

[Note: from two memoranda to BAAS, 1887 and 1899. See essay I]

I. TESTS OF ACCURATE MEASUREMENT, p.298-343
Pertaining to the preceding article.

[Note: from memorandum to BAAS, 1888.  See essay H]

J. VARIORUM NOTES ON INDEX-NUMBERS, p.344-350
On views of Taussig, Courtney, Ross, Merriam, Lehr and others.

[Note:
originally, "Recent Writings on Index-Numbers", Economic Journal, 1894]

K. PIERSON ON SCARCITY OF GOLD, p.351-355
Referring approvingly to articles by N. G. Pierson in De Gids.

[Note:
from Economic Journal, 1895]

L. A DEFENCE OF INDEX-NUMBERS, p.356-368
Referring to an article by N. G. Pierson in the Economic Journal

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1896]

M. MR. WALSH ON THE MEASUREMENT OF EXCHANGE-VALUE, p.369-383
Referring to Mr. Correa Walsh's "Measurement of Exchange Value."

[Note:
from Economic Journal, 1901]

N. PROFESSOR WESLEY MITCHELL ON INDEX-NUMBERS, p.384-405
The topics of H and I retouched with reference to a recent treatise.

[Note:
from Economic Journal, 1918]

O. EVALUATION OF THE METALLIC CURRENCY, p.406-415
An account of monetary censuses, especially that instituted for the Rupee circulation by Mr. F. C. Harrison.

[Note: originally, ""Recent Attempts to Evaluate the Amount of Coin Circulating in a Country", Economic Journal, 1892]

P. CALCULATION OF THE RUPEE CIRCULATION, p.416-420
In continuation of O.

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1900 (?).]

Q. QUESTIONS CONNECTED WITH BIMETALLISM, p.421-442
Contributions to questions that were "burning" in the 'nineties of last century.

[Note: originally, "Thoughts on Monetary Reform", Economic Journal, 1895]

 


PAPERS RELATING TO POLITICAL ECONOMY
- VOLUME II -

 

SECTION IV. - INTERNATIONAL TRADE


R. THE PURE THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL VALUES, p.3-60
A restatement of first principles, both on classical lines and in the language of mathematics; with criticisms of leading writers.

[Note: originally "The Theory of International Values", Parts I, II and III, from Economic Journal, 1894]

SECTION V. - TAXATION

S. THE PURE THEORY OF TAXATION, p.63-125
On the incidence of various taxes, and the criterion of equitable or optimum taxation.

[Note: originally in three parts, from Economic Journal, 1897]

T. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PUT BY THE LOCAL TAXATION COMMISSION, p.126-149
A restatement in simple terms of some propositions more technically expressed in the preceding article.

[Note: from Reprint of Royal Commission on Local Taxation (?), 1899]

U. URBAN RATES, p.150-214
A discussion of the answers given by leading economists to the questions put by the Royal Commission on Local Taxation; with special reference to the criterion of good taxation, the incidence of taxes on houses and the taxation of site value.

[Note: originally in three parts, from Economic Journal, 1900]

V. FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS ON URBAN RATES, p.215-226
The taxation of site value further considered, with special reference to the Minority Report of the Local Taxation Commission and the Parliamentary Bills founded thereon.

[Note: originally, "Recent Schemes for Rating Urban Land Values", Economic Journal, 1906]

W. ADDRESS TO STUDENTS, p.227-233
The subject of the preceding articles resumed.

[Note: previously unpublished]

X. MINIMUM SACRIFICE versus EQUAL SACRIFICE, p.234-242
A defence of minimum aggregate sacrifice as the criterion of good taxation.

[Note: originally "The Subjective Element in the First Principles of Taxation",  Quarterly Journal of Economics, 1910]

Y. GRADUATION OF TAXES, p.243-259
Investigation of formulae proper to represent the amount of tax corresponding to an amount of taxable income (or capital).

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1919]

Z. FORMULAE FOR GRADUATING TAXATION, p.260-270
The subject of the preceding article retouched, with special reference to the Royal Commission on the Income Tax.

[Note: originally, "Mathematical Formulae and the Royal Commission on Income Tax", Economic Journal, 1920]

 

SECTION VI. - MATHEMATICAL ECONOMICS

a. APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICS TO POLITICAL ECONOMY, p.273-312
Presidential address to Section F of the British Association.

[Note: published 1889 simultaneously in Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science and the Journal of  Statistical Society of London, plus supplementary note (1925). ]

b . THE DETERMINATENESS OF ECONOMIC EQUILIBRIUM, p.313-319
Extracts from an article referring to the author's Mathematical Psychics.

[Note
: originally Italian, "Osservasioni sulla teoria matematica dell' economica politica" Giornale degli Economisti, 1891, translated with supplementary notes (1925)]

g . VARIORUM THEORIES, p.320-339
Examination of the views of Pigou, Flux, Loria, Chapman on Consumers' Surplus, Rent, Duopoly, Entrepreneur's Remuneration.

[Note: originally two-part essay, "Appreciations of Mathematical Theories: Part I & II", Economic Journal, 1907  Continued in essay d]

d. BICKERDIKE'S THEORY OF INCIPIENT TAXES, p.340-366
On some curiosities of mathematical theory.

[Note: originally a two-part essay, "Appreciations of Mathematical Theories: Parts III & IV", Economic Journal, 1908, a continuation of essay g]

e . APPLICATION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS TO ECONOMICS, p.367-386
A fragment dealing with the more mechanical part of Political Economy.

[Note: originally "On the Use of the Differential Calculus in Economics to Determine Conditions of Maximum Advantage", Scientia, 1909]

z . APPLICATION OF PROBABILITIES TO ECONOMICS, p.387-428
Presumptions underlying received reasoning and clues to new propositions.

[Note: from two-part essay in Economic Journal, 1910]

h . ON SOME THEORIES DUE TO PROFESSOR PIGOU, p.429-449
An examination of "marginal supply price" and other novelties in Wealth and Welfare.

[Note: originally, "Contributions to the Theory of Railway Rates, Part IV", Economic Journal, 1913.  See essays C and G]

q . ON SOME THEORIES DUE TO PARETO, ZAWADSKI, W. E. JOHNSON, AND OTHERS, p.450-491
Mathematical arguments partly formal and partly bearing on practice.

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1915]

 


PAPERS RELATING TO POLITICAL ECONOMY
- VOLUME III -


SECTION VII - REVIEWS



THE SCOPE AND METHOD OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, JOHN NEVILLE KEYNES, p.3

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1891.  See John Neville Keynes profile.]

PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS, ALFRED MARSHALL, p.7

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1891.  See Alfred Marshall profile.]

THE ELEMENTS OF POLITICS
, HENRY SIDGWICK, p.15

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1891.  See Henry Sidgwick profile.]

CAPITAL, LABOUR AND TRADE, MARGARET BENSON, p.20

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1892]

THE POSITIVE THEORY OF CAPITAL, EUGEN BÖHM-BAWERK, p.22

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1892. See Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk profile.]

INTRODUCTION TO THE THEORY OF VALUE, ON THE LINES OF MENGER, WIESER, AND BOHM-BAWERK, WILLIAM SMART, p.31

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1892. See William Smart profile.]

DAS GESCHLECHTVERHÄLTNISS DER GEBURTEN IN PREUSSEN, C. DÜSING, p.32

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1892]

MATHEMATICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE THEORY OF VALUE AND PRICES, IRVING FISHER, p.36

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1893.  See Irving Fisher profile.]

PUBLIC FINANCE, C. F. BASTABLE, p.41

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1903.  See Charles Bastable profile.]

ANWENDUNGEN DER WAHRSCHEINLICHKEITSRECHNUNG AUF STATISTIK, L. V. BORTKIEWIEZ, p.43

ANWENDUNGEN DER MATHEMATIK AUF NATIONALÖKONOMIE, VILFREDO PARETO, p.43

[Note
: Reviewed together in Economic Journal, 1903. See profiles of Ladislaus von Bortkiewicz and Vilfredo Pareto.]

HISTORY OF TRADE UNIONISM
, SIDNEY AND BEATRICE WEBB, p.47

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1894.  For review of later (1920) edition, see below. See profiles of Sidney and Beatrice Webb.]

WIESER'S NATURAL VALUE, WILLIAM SMART, p.50

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1894.  See profiles of Friedrich von Wieser and William Smart.]

WOMEN'S WAGES, WILLIAM SMART, p.58

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1893.  See William Smart profile.]

THE ULTIMATE STANDARD OF VALUE, E. BÖHM-BAWERK, p.59

[Note: originally "Professor Böhm-Bawerk on the Ultimate Standard of Value"  Economic Journal, 1894. See Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk profile.]

PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS (Third Edition), ALFRED MARSHALL, p.64

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1895. See Alfred Marshall profile.]

MONEY AND ITS RELATION TO PRICES, L. L. PRICE, p.69

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1896.]

STRIKES AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS, J. S. NICHOLSON, p.73.

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1896. See J.S. Nicholson profile.]

LEERBOEK DER STAATHUISHOUDKUNDE (Eerste Decl), N. G. PIERSON, p.77

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1896.]

ISTITUZIONI DI SCIENZA DELLE FINANZE, A. GRAZIANI, p.80

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1897. See A. Graziani profile.]

LEERBOEK DER STAATHUISHOUDKUNDE (Tweede Decl), p.85

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1897.]

SULLA RIPERCUSSIONE DELLE IMPOSTE, A. GRAZIANI, p.89

[Note
: originally, "Professor Graziani on the Mathematical Theory of Monopoly", Economic Journal, 1898. See A. Graziani profile.]

LETTERS OF DAVID RICARDO TO HUTCHES TROWER AND OTHERS, J. BONAR AND J. H. HOLLANDER, p.95

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1900.  See David Ricardo profile]

THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH, J. B. CLARK, p.97

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1900.  See John Bates Clark profile.]

BIMETALLISM, L. DARWIN, p.101

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1898.]

COURNOT'S MATHEMATICAL PRINCIPLES OF THEORY OF WEALTH, AND INTRODUCTION TO THE INFINITESIMAL CALCULUS, IRVING FISHER, p.109

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1898.  See profiles of Augustin Cournot and Irving Fisher.]

LA CO-OPÉRATION, CHARLES GIDE, p.112

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1902.  See Charles Gide profile.]

ANTICIPATIONS, H. G. WELLS, p.113

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1902.  See H.G. Wells profile.]

HISTORY OF THE THEORIES OF PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION, EDWIN CANNAN, p.115

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1903.  See Edwin Cannan profile.]

THE RIDDLE OF THE TARIFF, A. C. PIGOU, p.119

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1904.  See Arthur C. Pigou profile.]

ELEMENTS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, J. S. NICHOLSON, p.121

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1904. See J.S. Nicholson profile.]

NATIONAL PROGRESS IN WEALTH AND TRADE, A. L. BOWLEY, p.123

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1904. See Arthur Bowley profile.]

IRELAND IN THE NEW CENTURY, SIR HORACE PLUNKETT, p.126

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1904.]

THE THEORY OF LOAN CREDIT, J. PEASE NORTON, p.128

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1904.]

ISTITUZIONI DI ECONOMICA POLITICA, A. GRAZIANI, p.130

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1904. See A. Graziani profile.]

VERGELTUNGZÖLLE, H. DIETZEL, p.132

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1904.]

HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH CORN LAWS, J. S. NICHOLSON, p.133

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1905. See J.S. Nicholson profile.]

A GEOMETRICAL POLITICAL ECONOMY, H. CUNYNGHAME, p.136

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1905.]

THE THEORY OF DISTRIBUTION, T. N. CARVER, p.144

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1905.  See Thomas Nixon Carver profile.]

THE PRESENT POSITION OF THE DOCTRINE OF FREE TRADE, F. W. TAUSSIG, p.145

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1905.  See Frank Taussig profile.]

HENRY SIDGWICK: A MEMOIR, A. S. AND E. M. S, p.147

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1906.  See Henry Sidgwick profile.]

LA MONNAIE, A. DE FOVILLE, p.152

[Note: Reviewed together with Yves Guyot's Science economique in the Economic Journal, 1907.]

PERI APOGRAFHS, A. ANDRÉADES, p.157

[Note: title translates to "A Lecture on the Census", from Economic Journal, 1908.

GOLD PRICES AND WAGES UNDER THE GREENBACK STANDARD, WESLEY C. MITCHELL, p.158

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1908.  See Wesley Clair Mitchell profile.]

THE MEANING OF MONEY, HARTLEY WITHERS, 162

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1909.

FREE TRADE IN BEING, ROSSELL REA, 164

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1909.

COURS D'ÉCONOMIE POLITIQUE, C. COLSON, p.168

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1910. See Clement-Leon Colson profile

J. S. MILL'S PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, W. J. ASHLEY, p.175

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1910. See John Stuart Mill profile

STANDARDS OF REASONABLENESS IN LOCAL FREIGHT DISCRIMINATIONS, J. MAURICE CLARK, p.176

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1910. See John Maurice Clark profile

RAILWAY RATE THEORIES OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION, M.B. HAMMOND, p.179

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1911

WEALTH AND WELFARE, A. C. PIGOU, p.181

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1913. See Arthur C. Pigou profile

THE ECONOMY AND FINANCE OF THE WAR, A. C. PIGOU, p.189

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1916. See Arthur C. Pigou profile

ECONOMISTS ON WAR, W. SOMBART AND OTHERS, p.194

[Note
: Joint review of four books in Economic Journal, 1915. See profiles of Werner Sombart, J. S. Nicholson and E.R.A. Seligman

LA GERMANIA ALLA CONQUISTA DELL' ITALIA, G. PREZIOSI, p.201

[Note
: from Economic Journal, 1916.

THE APPLICATION OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS TO ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, J. C. STAMP, p.204

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1916.

NATIONAL POWER AND PROSPERITY, CONRAD GILL, p.212

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1917.

ECONOMICS IN THE LIGHT OF WAR, R. A. LEHFELDT, p.214

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1917.

GERMAN ECONOMIC WRITINGS ABOUT THE WAR, F. EULENBERG AND OTHERS, p,215

[Note: Joint review of 10 books from Economic Journal, 1917.  See profile of Lujo Brentano.

AFTER-WAR PROBLEMS, W. HARBUTT DAWSON, p.228

WOMEN IN ECONOMIC LIFE, MRS. FAWCETT, p.230

TAXATION AFTER THE WAR, ALFRED MARSHALL, p.233

[Note
: Review of Dawson-edited book, which contains the contributions of the others. From Economic Journal, 1917.  See profiles of Millicent Garrett Fawcett and Alfred Marshall].

THE VALUE OF MONEY, B. M. ANDERSON, p.237

[Note: From Economic Journal, 1918.  See profile of B.M. Anderson.]

PRINCIPLES OF MONEY AND BANKING, H. G. MOULTON, p.241

READINGS IN MONEY AND BANKING, C. A. PHILLIPS, p.241

[Note:
Joint review of both books from Economic Journal, 1918.]

RURAL RECONSTRUCTION IN IRELAND, LIONEL SMITH-GORDON, p.243

THE NATIONAL BEING, A. E. (GEORGE RUSSELL), p.243

[Note: Joint review of both books from Economic Journal, 1918]

MONEY, ITS CONNECTION WITH RISING AND FALLING PRICES, EDWIN CANNAN, p.248

[Note:
from Economic Journal, 1919.  See Edwin Cannan profile.]

ISTORIA THS EDLHNIKHS DHMOSIAS OIKONOMIAS, A. ANDRÉADÉS, p.251

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1919.]

GOLD PRICES AND THE WITWATERSRAND
, R. A. LEHFELDT, p.253

[Note:
from Economic Journal, 1919.]

THE HISTORY OF TRADE UNIONISM (Revised Edition), SIDNEY AND BEATRICE WEBB, p.257

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1920.  For review of earlier (1894) edition, see above.  See profiles of Sidney and Beatrice Webb.]

THE ECONOMIC CAUSES OF WAR, ACHILLE LORIA, p.260

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1918.  See Achille Loria profile.]

PRINCIPII DI ECONOMIA COMMERCIALE, GINO ARIAS, p.263

[Note: from Economic Journal, 1918]

THEORETISCHE SOZIALÖKONOMIE, GUSTAV CASSEL, p.266

[Note:
from Economic Journal, 1920.  See Gustav Cassel profile.]

THE REVIVAL OF MARXISM, J. S. NICHOLSON, p.273

KARL MARX, ACHILLE LORIA, p.273

[Note: Joint review of both books from Economic Journal, 1921.  See profiles of J.S. Nicholson and Achille Loria.]

INDEX 

[to all three volumes]

 

 

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