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An Essay on the Origin of the Rational Utility Maximization Hypothesis and a Suggested Modification

Author

Listed:
  • Ken McCormick

    (University of Northern Iowa)

Abstract

The rational utility maximization hypothesis (RUMH) was not always a part of economics. Most Classical economists believed that people are influenced by passions as well as by reason. The RUMH became a central part of economics when mathematics became a primary tool of analysis. This was not a coincidence, as the change in method led to the ascendancy of the RUMH. Motivated by recent experimental evidence, it is suggested that the marginal trader hypothesis be invoked to allow a modification of the RUMH: When arbitrage is possible, only a small fraction of market participants need be assumed rational.

Suggested Citation

  • Ken McCormick, 1997. "An Essay on the Origin of the Rational Utility Maximization Hypothesis and a Suggested Modification," Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 23(1), pages 17-30, Winter.
    • Handle: RePEc:eej:eeconj:v:23:y:1997:i:1:p:17-30
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    File URL: http://web.holycross.edu/RePEc/eej/Archive/Volume23/V23N1P17_30.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Rodrigo Laera, 2020. "El problema teleológico en la raíz del pensamiento económico," Ensayos de Economía 18305, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín.
    2. Arman Abgaryan & Utkarsh Sharma, 2023. "Dynamic Function Market Maker," Papers 2307.13624, arXiv.org.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Utility;

    JEL classification:

    • B10 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - General
    • B21 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Microeconomics
    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory

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