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Retrospectives: Lionel W. McKenzie and the Proof of the Existence of a Competitive Equilibrium

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  • E. Roy Weintraub

Abstract

The theorem proving the existence of general equilibrium in a competitive economy, which necessarily involved specifying the conditions under which such an equilibrium would exist, is an extraordinary achievement of twentieth-century economics. The discovery is commonly attributed to a paper by (eventual) Nobel Prize winners Kenneth Arrow and Gerard Debreau: "Existence of an Equilibrium for a Competitive Economy," published in the July 1954 issue of Econometrica . However it is less well-known that Lionel McKenzie published a paper in the previous issue of Econometrica , "On Equilibrium in Graham's Model of World Trade and Other Competitive Systems," that discussed many of the same themes. Both papers established the existence of a competitive equilibrium for suitable general equilibrium models and employed fixed point theorem arguments. McKenzie had priority in publication in 1954 and received credit for simultaneous discovery in prominent sources around that time. But over the years, McKenzie's role in creating the proof of the existence of a general equilibrium seems to have faded from the collective consciousness of the economics profession. Newly available archival material permits a reexamination of the events surrounding the publication of both Econometrica papers in 1954. The story raises general issues concerning "simultaneous discovery," "priority," and "credit" in economic research and opens a window into some academic practices of that time.

Suggested Citation

  • E. Roy Weintraub, 2011. "Retrospectives: Lionel W. McKenzie and the Proof of the Existence of a Competitive Equilibrium," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 25(2), pages 199-215, Spring.
  • Handle: RePEc:aea:jecper:v:25:y:2011:i:2:p:199-215
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/jep.25.2.199
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    File URL: http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/jep.25.2.199
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. McKenzie, Lionel W, 1981. "The Classical Theorem on Existence of Competitive Equilibrium," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 49(4), pages 819-841, June.
    2. Blank, Rebecca M, 1991. "The Effects of Double-Blind versus Single-Blind Reviewing: Experimental Evidence from The American Economic Review," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 81(5), pages 1041-1067, December.
    3. Lionel W. McKenzie, 1953. "Specialisation and Efficiency in World Production," Review of Economic Studies, Oxford University Press, vol. 21(3), pages 165-180.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jonathan Eaton & Samuel Kortum, 2012. "Putting Ricardo to Work," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 26(2), pages 65-90, Spring.
    2. Richard S. J. Tol, 2022. "Rise of the Kniesians: the professor-student network of Nobel laureates in economics," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(4), pages 680-703, July.
    3. Robert W. Dimand, 2019. "Léon Walras, Irving Fisher and the Cowles Approach to General Equilibrium Analysis," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 2205, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • B23 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Econometrics; Quantitative and Mathematical Studies
    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals

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