Foundations of Economic Analysis

work by Samuelson

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June 26, 2026

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Paul Samuelson's Foundations of Economic Analysis (1947) is a seminal work in economics that uses mathematical techniques to explore economic theory. Samuelson's core idea is that the universality of consumer behavior is central to economic theory. He applied these mathematical methods to diverse fields, including the stability of economic systems, international trade, public goods, capital theory, and welfare economics.1

His work is particularly noted for its mathematical formulation of the interaction between multiplier and accelerator effects, and for developing the theory of revealed preference in consumption analysis. Samuelson's clear writing style made his work accessible, and his textbook Economics is considered a classic.1

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Paul Samuelson
His Foundations of Economic Analysis (1947) provides the basic theme of his work, with the universal nature of consumer behaviour seen as the key to economic theory. Samuelson studied such diverse fields as the dynamics and stability of economic systems, the incorporation of the theory of…
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His Foundations of Economic Analysis (1947) provides the basic theme of his work, with the universal nature of consumer behaviour seen as the key to economic theory. Samuelson studied such diverse fields as the dynamics and stability of economic systems, the incorporation of the theory of…
Read More