Mark D. White

I'd like to bring to your attention a fascinating call for papers from the journal Œconomia, a relatively new journal examining the history, philosophy, and methodology of economics:

Externalities in economic thought and beyond

Editors of the special issue : Steven G. Medema and Samuel Ferey

Expression of interest: November 15th, 2013

Deadline for submission: September 1st, 2014

Planed publication of the issue: 2015

Over the last sixty years, the concept of externality has become prominent within economics. It is common knowledge that the concept was first discussed by Marshall and then given an analytical content by Pigou (1920) in The Economics of Welfare, in which he analyzed the divergence between marginal private interest and marginal social interest in case of a negative externality and proposed to implement a tax system on polluting activities. Since Meade's (1952) now classic presentation of the effect of an externality through the fable of the apple grower and the beekeeper, the concept of externality has gained visibility in mainstream economic analysis. It has fostered a vast literature and many debates between economists intent on refining the definition and the actual scope of the concept. [Read More]