Thèse. - Lyon. / Bibliographie: p. [365]-374.

O objetivo desta dissertação é investigar as contribuições à teoria de processo de mercado feitas pelos principais economistas da Escola Austríaca desde o seu ressurgimento na década de setenta do século XX. Inicialmente situam-se os problemas tratados pela teoria de processo, apresentando-se as contribuições anteriores realizadas por Hayek nas décadas de trinta e quarenta, em especial o que ficou conhecido como o "problema do conhecimento" deste autor. A partir disso, estudam-se as contribuições das duas figuras principais do ressurgimento da escola, Ludwig Lachmann e Israel Kirzner. A investigação privilegia o estudo das implicações do subjetivismo para a teoria do processo de mercado do primeiro e a teoria da atividade empresarial do segundo. Segue-se com o debate ocorrido na década de oitenta que confronta as idéias desses dois autores a respeito da existência de uma tendência ao equilíbrio de mercado. Conclui-se com alguns desenvolvimentos mais recentes da teoria. A obra dos autores, o debate entre eles e as contribuições posteriores são analisadas sob o ponto de vista da epistemologia evolucionária de Popper. / The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the contributions to the theory of market process made by the most important economists of the Austrian School since its revival in the seventies. We initially pose the problems the theory of market process deal with, showing the early contributions to that theory made by Hayek in the 30´s and 40´s, specially what was known latter as his "knowledge problem" After this, we study the contributions of the two leading figures of the revival, Ludwig Lachmann and Israel Kirzner. The investigation focus on the former’s study of the implications of subjectivism to market process theory and the latter's theory of entrepreneurship. After that, we deal with the debate that happened in the 80´s, confronting the views of the two authors concerning the existence of a tendency toward market equilibrium. We conclude with some more recent developments of the theory. The work of the authors, the debate among them and the latter contributions are discussed under the view of Popper's evolutionary epistemology.

Thesis (MA--Art and Design) -- Auckland University of Technology, 2001. / Also held in print (iv, 82 leaves, col. ill., 30 cm.) in Wellesley Theses Collection. (T 760.0993 SIE)

O objetivo desta dissertação é investigar as contribuições à teoria de processo de mercado feitas pelos principais economistas da Escola Austríaca desde o seu ressurgimento na década de setenta do século XX. Inicialmente situam-se os problemas tratados pela teoria de processo, apresentando-se as contribuições anteriores realizadas por Hayek nas décadas de trinta e quarenta, em especial o que ficou conhecido como o "problema do conhecimento" deste autor. A partir disso, estudam-se as contribuições das duas figuras principais do ressurgimento da escola, Ludwig Lachmann e Israel Kirzner. A investigação privilegia o estudo das implicações do subjetivismo para a teoria do processo de mercado do primeiro e a teoria da atividade empresarial do segundo. Segue-se com o debate ocorrido na década de oitenta que confronta as idéias desses dois autores a respeito da existência de uma tendência ao equilíbrio de mercado. Conclui-se com alguns desenvolvimentos mais recentes da teoria. A obra dos autores, o debate entre eles e as contribuições posteriores são analisadas sob o ponto de vista da epistemologia evolucionária de Popper. / The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the contributions to the theory of market process made by the most important economists of the Austrian School since its revival in the seventies. We initially pose the problems the theory of market process deal with, showing the early contributions to that theory made by Hayek in the 30´s and 40´s, specially what was known latter as his "knowledge problem" After this, we study the contributions of the two leading figures of the revival, Ludwig Lachmann and Israel Kirzner. The investigation focus on the former’s study of the implications of subjectivism to market process theory and the latter's theory of entrepreneurship. After that, we deal with the debate that happened in the 80´s, confronting the views of the two authors concerning the existence of a tendency toward market equilibrium. We conclude with some more recent developments of the theory. The work of the authors, the debate among them and the latter contributions are discussed under the view of Popper's evolutionary epistemology.

The theme of academic anti-Semitism has been much discussed recently in histories of the interwar period of the University of Vienna, in particular its Faculty of Law and Policy Sciences. This paper complements these studies by focusing in this regard on the economics chairs at this faculty and, more generally, on the fate of the younger generation of the Austrian school of economics. After some introductory remarks the paper concentrates on three case studies: the neglect of Mises in all three appointments of economics chairs in the 1920s; the anti-Semitic overtones in the conflict between Hans Mayer and Othmar Spann, both professors for economics at the faculty; and on anti-Semitism as a determinant of success or failure in academia, and consequently of the emigration of Austrian economists. Finally, we have a short look at the development of economics at the University of Vienna during and after the Nazi regime. (author's abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

The Nationalökonomische Gesellschaft (Austrian Economic Association, NOeG) provides a prominent example of the Viennese economic circles that more than academic economics dominated scientific discourse in the interwar years. For the first time this paper gives a thorough account of its history, from its foundation 1918 until the demise of its long-time president, Hans Mayer, 1955, based on official documents and archival material. The topics treated include its predecessor and rival, the Gesellschaft österreichischer Volkswirte, the foundation 1918 soon to be followed by years of inactivity, the relaunch by Mayer and Mises, the survival under the NS-regime and the expulsion of its Jewish members, and the slow restoration after 1945. In particular, an attempt is made to provide a list of the papers presented to the NOeG, as complete as possible, for the period 1918-1938. (author's abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

The Nationalökonomische Gesellschaft (NOeG) was founded in June 1918 by a group of young scholars, mostly based in Vienna, as a forum for theoretical debate. Despite the prominent economists involved (e.g. Schumpeter, Mises, Mayer, Spann, Amonn) its activities soon petered out. The relaunch of the NOeG in 1927 originated from the necessity of the two strands of the Austrian school, led by Mayer and Mises, to find some tolerable arrangement; Spann and economists outside the University of Vienna were excluded. Around 1930 the NOeG and Vienna in general proved an attraction for many well-known economists from abroad, and many of the papers presented were printed and cited in first-rate journals. Yet with the emigration of many Austrian economists during the 1930s the NOeG mirrored the general decline of academic economics in Austria and the number and quality of the papers presented decreased. After the Anschluss 1938 the NOeG and its president Mayer were quick in dismissing its Jewish members and in the following adhered to a strategy of inconspicuous adaptation; its formal existence did not lead to any substantial activities. The post-war period was characterized by the restoration of the situation before 1938, with Mayer's continued presence at the university as well as at the NOeG a case in point. In the end, it led Austrian academic economics into a state of international isolation and "provincialization" much lamented by the émigré economists of the Austrian school.

This thesis aims to broaden the discussion about the origins of some of the fundamental theoretical sources for Hayek’s ideas regarding freedom and the state. It focuses on the debates between the Austrian School of Economics and the German Historical School of Economics, as well as the works of Popper, Mill, Humboldt and Hegel in order to identify their positive and negative influences on Hayek’s views of freedom and the state. The originality of the thesis relates to the examination of Humboldt’s political philosophy in terms of its influence over the formation of the components of Hayek’s account of freedom, such as spontaneous order, the rule of law, the role of the state, and the nature of human knowledge. These components have assisted in Hayek’s efforts to prove the superiority of open societies over totalitarian regimes. The thesis explains that Hayek’s intellectual collaboration with Popper played a significant role in identifying many enemies of open societies. Both theorists agreed that historicism was a method commonly used and promoted by the enemies of open society; specifically, they accused Hegel of promoting historicism and, as a result, of being an enemy of open societies. However, this thesis disputes these accusations and argues that Popper and Hayek did not possess adequate knowledge of Hegel’s theoretical work to make such claims. In actuality, Hegel was not an enemy of open societies, he recognized the potential devastating outcomes associated with them and sought solutions. The thesis also explores the idea that Mill was also worried about the detrimental features of industrial capitalism and, as a result, attributed a prominent role to “state activity” in securing the conditions of positive freedom. Hayek, meanwhile, viewed such forms of state interference as obstacles to attaining freedom. This thesis examines the topic whether or not Hayek actually sought to formulate a genuine form of freedom or if he merely valued freedom as a tool for the promotion of open societies over centrally planned economies.

This thesis deals with the monetary theory of business cycles as presented by the so called Austrian school of economics. It analyzes the different economic effects of investments financed by saving as opposed to investments financed by credit expansion. It shows that in the latter case an unsustainable situation results in which economic actors try both to invest and to consume more at the same time, which is physically impossible. The result is recession and liquidation of malinvestments made during the boom. The thesis also provides an answer to critiques of the Austrian business cycle theory by proponents of the rational expectations hypothesis. Furthermore, a critique of traditional national income accounting measures, namely GDP, is put forward. These measures fail to adequately show the described cyclical changes in the economy's productive structure, e.g. the artificial boom and subsequent correction. Gross domestic revenue (GDR) is proposed as an alternative measure that adds the expenditure on intermediate products back to GDP. In the last part of the thesis GDR is calculated for the Czech economy.

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the monetary policy of the Swedish central bank, Riksbanken, from the perspective of the Austrian School of Economics. The thesis starts with a description of the actions of Riksbanken, its objectives of the monetary policy and what tools are used to achieve those objectives. The thesis continues with an analysis of possible consequences for the Swedish business cycles that the monetary policy of Riksbanken may have caused. The theory that is used to answer the research question is Austrian economic theory and primarily Austrian Business Cycle Theory. A review of relevant theory is made, and an examination of relevant macroeconomic factors is produced. The examination shows that the factors have changed over time according to the prediction of the Austrian School of Economics. The Riksbank's monetary policy decisions have been affected by concerns about the household indebtedness. This concern is in line with the warnings of the Austrian school. The Riksbank has, on the other hand, not considered the Austrian schools' fears of malinvestment and artificial boom in its monetary policy decisions. The conclusion of the essay is that the monetary policy of Riksbanken may contribute to strengthening business cycles, according with the perspective of the Austrian School of Economics. If the inflation prognosis’s from Riksbanken would have been correct, they probably had exercised a more aggressive monetary policy, primary by lowering the interest rate. It would have increased the variations of the business cycles trough increasing the gap between the natural interest rate and the market rate. / Syftet med uppsatsen är att granska Riksbankens penningpolitik utifrån den österrikiska skolans synsätt. Uppsatsen redogör för Riksbankens mål för penningpolitiken och vilka verktyg de använder för att uppnå dessa. Granskningen av den förda penningpolitiken genomförs utifrån den österrikiska ekonomiska teorin, främst dess konjunkturcykelteori. En genomgång av denna teori genomförs, och en analys av bakomliggande faktorer utförs. Analysen slår fast att de flesta av de undersökta variablerna har förändrat i linje med vad som kan förväntas enligt den österrikiska teorin. Riksbankens penningpolitiska beslut har påverkats av oron för hushållen skuldsättning. Denna oro ligger i linje med vad österrikiska skolan varnar för. Den österrikiska skolans farhågor för felinvesteringar och konstlad högkonjunktur har Riksbanken däremot inte tagit hänsyn till i sina penningpolitiska beslut. Slutsatsen för uppsatsen blir att Riksbankens penningpolitik kan ha bidragit till att förstärka konjunktursvängningarna. I det fall att Riksbankens inflationsprognoser varit mer träffsäkra, skulle de under större delen av perioden enligt sina egna handlingsregler ha fört en mer aggressiv penningpolitik, främst genom lägre styrränta. Det skulle i så fall stärkt konjunktursvängningarna än mer enligt den österrikiska konjukturcykelteorin.