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Learning to choose a commodity-money: Carl Menger's theory of imitation and the search monetary framework

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  • Andres Alvarez

Abstract

This paper studies Carl Menger's theory of the emergence of a commodity money. We propose an interpretation of Menger's learning by imitation process based on the search theoretical formal framework. We show that there exists a tension between the importance of intrinsic properties of commodities and the pure conventional self-fulfilling expectations of agents. This confirms the role of imitation in the emergence of monetary equilibria in search theory. We conclude that Menger's approach may support the idea that the fundamental property of a commodity-money (namely its great liquidity) is the result of its emergence process and not necessarily of its original intrinsic properties.

Suggested Citation

  • Andres Alvarez, 2004. "Learning to choose a commodity-money: Carl Menger's theory of imitation and the search monetary framework," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 53-78.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:11:y:2004:i:1:p:53-78
    DOI: 10.1080/0967256032000171506
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Trejos, Alberto & Wright, Randall, 1995. "Search, Bargaining, Money, and Prices," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 103(1), pages 118-141, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eduard Braun, 2015. "Carl Menger’s Contribution to Capital Theory," History of Economic Ideas, Fabrizio Serra Editore, Pisa - Roma, vol. 23(1), pages 77-100.
    2. Gilbert Bougi, 2005. "Pourquoi le problème monétaire de Menger reste-t-il non résolu?," CAE Working Papers 31, Aix-Marseille Université, CERGAM.
    3. Alastair Berg, 2020. "The Identity, Fungibility and Anonymity of Money," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 39(2), pages 104-117, June.
    4. Sandye Gloria, 2025. "Emergence. Another Look at the Mengerian Theory of Money," GREDEG Working Papers 2025-24, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    5. Claire Pignol, 2010. "Money, exchange and division of labour in Rousseau's economic philosophy," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(2), pages 199-228.

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