From Classical to Modern Analysis

Abstract

In the first part of this presentation of 20th century Mathematical Economics we saw, generally speaking, that “classical” mathematical analysis supplied the main tools¹ to formulate and to study the various theories and models Since the Fifties, a marked change in the type to now presented. Since the Fifties, a marked change in the type of mathematical tools employed by economic theory becomes apparent. Tools essentially linked to differentiability are discarded in favour of more basic tools from set theory and general topology, together with a wide use of convex structures. This set of tools is frequently denominated “modern” analysis, to mark the change in emphasis which took place in mathematical economics during and after the second world war.²