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Georges d’Avenel. An economic historian ahead of his time

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  • Alain Alcouffe
  • David Le Bris

Abstract

Unsatisfied with the traditional history, d’Avenel focused on quantitative data to understand the past. He built series of prices of multiple goods and services from 1200 onwards to document long-term changes in incomes and prices as a result of the technical progress and in inequalities as captured by the top 1%. Criticised by some contemporary historians, his data were used by Vilfredo Pareto, Irving Fisher, Ragner Frisch or Alfred Marshall and are still exploited. His analysis fertilised various fields in particular the Annales School and his findings on social evolutions attract the interest of 21st-century social scientists.

Suggested Citation

  • Alain Alcouffe & David Le Bris, 2023. "Georges d’Avenel. An economic historian ahead of his time," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(4), pages 606-634, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:30:y:2023:i:4:p:606-634
    DOI: 10.1080/09672567.2023.2226397
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    1. Alain Alcouffe, 1989. "The Institutionalization of Political Economy in French Universities: 1819–1896," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 21(2), pages 313-344, Summer.
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    3. Roger Mason, 2000. "The Social Significance of Consumption: James Duesenberry’s Contribution to Consumer Theory," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(3), pages 553-572, September.
    4. Arrow, Kenneth J, 1994. "Methodological Individualism and Social Knowledge," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(2), pages 1-9, May.
    5. Hoffman, Philip T. & Jacks, David S. & Levin, Patricia A. & Lindert, Peter H., 2002. "Real Inequality In Europe Since 1500," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 62(2), pages 322-355, June.
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