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Georges d'Avenel: an economic historian ahead of its time

Author

Listed:
  • Alain Alcouffe

    (UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse)

  • David Le Bris

    (TBS - Toulouse Business School)

Abstract

At the end of the 19th, Georges d'Avenel produced a highly original work in various fields. Unsatisfied with the usual way to write history, he turned his attention to quantitative data to understand the past. In particular, he built series of prices of multiples goods and services from 1200 onwards. He proposed a documented analysis of long-term changes in prices as a result of the technical progress, in income and wealth inequalities as captured by the top 1%, as well as in the evolution of mentalities. His approaches were criticized both by both new professional "Republican" historians than by Conservative analysts. However, his data used by Pareto, Fisher, Frisch or Marshall are still used in current economic history and his analysis fertilized various fields in particular the Ecole des Annales.

Suggested Citation

  • Alain Alcouffe & David Le Bris, 2021. "Georges d'Avenel: an economic historian ahead of its time," Post-Print hal-03551429, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03551429
    DOI: 10.1080/09672567.2023.2226397
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03551429v2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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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.
    2. Cole, Arthur H. & Crandall, Ruth, 1964. "The International Scientific Committee on Price History," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 24(3), pages 381-388, September.
    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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    Keywords

    d'Avenel; history of prices; distribution of wealth; economic history;
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