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The double emergence of the Modified Internal Rate of Return: The neglected financial work of Duvillard (1755 - 1832) in a comparative perspective

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  • Yuri Biondi

Abstract

This article aims at enhancing current understanding of the history of investment evaluation criteria based on discounting. Their emergence constitutes a challenging issue for scholars devoted to the history of financial economics, as well as to fundamental tools of economic analysis. Their history is analysed in a comparative perspective, starting with the neglected contribution of Duvillard as a reference case. More than two centuries ago, this French language scholar developed, by an optimizing analytical machinery, a financial measure technically similar to Modified Internal Rate of Return (MIRR). In order to assess his theoretical contribution in a comparative perspective, the author will try to briefly account for the different contexts where the financial measure has been invented twice. This approach, indeed, is concerned with the institutional changes and the theoretical developments they fostered. It analyses concepts such as time preference, techniques such as discounting and issues such as the 'reinvestment problem'. On the one hand, the Past (especially around the eighteenth century) and Duvillard's contribution is explored. On the other hand, the Present is reconstructed (in particular the late Fifties and later), especially the recent debate that re-invented the MIRR. This article will conclude with some comparative results.

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  • Yuri Biondi, 2006. "The double emergence of the Modified Internal Rate of Return: The neglected financial work of Duvillard (1755 - 1832) in a comparative perspective," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 311-335.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:13:y:2006:i:3:p:311-335
    DOI: 10.1080/09672560600875281
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    1. Vélez Pareja Ignacio, 2012. "Ranking and optimal selection of investments with internal rate of return and benefit-cost ratio: a revision," Contaduría y Administración, Accounting and Management, vol. 57(1), pages 29-51, enero-mar.
    2. Magni, Carlo Alberto, 2016. "Capital depreciation and the underdetermination of rate of return: A unifying perspective," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 54-79.
    3. Zanini, Andrea, 2021. "Pratica degli affari e prescrizioni morali: interesse e sconto nei manuali di aritmetica mercantile (secoli XVI-XVIII) [Business practices and moral precepts: interest and discount in commercial ar," MPRA Paper 108308, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Weber, Thomas A., 2014. "On the (non-)equivalence of IRR and NPV," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 25-39.
    5. Carlo Alberto Magni, 2010. "Average Internal Rate of Return and investment decisions: A new perspective," Centro Studi di Banca e Finanza (CEFIN) (Center for Studies in Banking and Finance) 0021, Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento di Economia "Marco Biagi".
    6. Kierulff, Herbert, 2008. "MIRR: A better measure," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 321-329.
    7. Lambert Jerman, 2013. "La Juste Valeur : Une Comptabilite Actuarielle Pour Les Marches ... Ou Les Comptables ?," Post-Print hal-00991877, HAL.
    8. Yuri Biondi, 2009. "Capital budgeting under relational contracting: optimal ranking and duration criteria for schemes of concession, project-financing and public-private partnership," Post-Print hal-00442716, HAL.
    9. Cuthbert, James R. & Magni, Carlo Alberto, 2016. "Measuring the inadequacy of IRR in PFI schemes using profitability index and AIRR," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 130-140.
    10. Rao, Xudong & Hurley, Terrance M. & Pardey, Philip G., 2012. "Recalibrating the Reported Rates of Return to Food and Agricultural R&D," 2012 Annual Meeting, August 12-14, 2012, Seattle, Washington 124581, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
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