The dissemination of economic ideas

The present research project grew out of a collaboration between European and Japanese economists and social scientists that are organised in the two main societies in Europe and Japan devoted to the history of economic thought, the European Society for the History of Economic Thought (ESHET) and the Japanese Society for the History of Economic Thought (JSHET). While there exist several valuable studies of aspects of the dissemination and further development of economic ideas and theories since the Meiji Restoration in 1867, a comprehensive account of the rich flow of ideas between Europe and Japan is not yet available. The project aims at - elaborating such an account; - studying the implications of the novel ideas with respect to the ways in which certain economic and social problems were perceived in Japan; - investigating the policies that were derived from the new perspectives assumed and tools adopted; - studying the impact of the new ideas on the formation of institutions in Japan. The emphasis will be first and foremost on the the first two taks mentioned. The project is subdivided into several sub projects. The present application concerns the reception, absorption and development of ideas and concepts stemming from German speaking and especially Austrian authors in Japan. More specifically, the concern will be with - the diffusion, adoption and adaption of ideas and modes of economic thinking of the so-called `Austrian School of Economists`, - and of Joseph Alois Schumpeter in Japan. Since the `Austrian School` was heavily involved in intellectual battles with representatives of the `German Historical School` on the one hand and `Marxists` and `Socialists` of various leanings on the other, a faithful account must take into consideration these debates and their reflection in the discourse of Japanese scholars, that is, - the Methodenstreit and - Marx and the socialists. Finally, there is the impact of the reception of contributions to mathematical economics at Karl Menger`s Vienna Kolloqium on Japanese scholars. The research will be carried out in close collaboration with Japanese colleagues.