Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Enrico Petracca 
Author-Email:
Author-Workplace-Name: University of Bologna - Department of Economics
Title: A «Geometrical Heresy»: Giuseppe Palomba's Economics between Physics and History 
Abstract: The economic thought of the Neapolitan Paretian economist Giuseppe Palomba (1908-1986) has usually
been neglected due to its high level of originality. Palomba, in fact, devised an axiomatic theory
of economic dynamics as qualitative change that was informed by a sophisticated abstract geometrical
framework. In particular, Palomba used for the first time ever in economics the mathematics of
groups of transformation, which allowed the identification of invariant properties (i.e., the marginalist
principle and equilibrium) among different models of economic phenomena. Other aspects of
Palomba’s composite framework are also emphasized, such as the attempt to find a consistent analogy
between economics and physics, the attempt to provide a historicist interpretation of mathematical
models, and the explicit metaphysical inspiration behind Palomba’s thought. In this last regard,
our attempt is to show that even metaphysical intuitions can be valuable heuristics for a scientificbased
economic analysis
Classification-JEL: B29, B31, B49 
Keywords: History of economic dynamics; Italian Paretian School; econophysics; historicism
Journal: Il Pensiero Economico Italiano
Pages: 105-124
Volume: 24
Issue: 2
Year: 2016
File-URL: http://www.libraweb.net/articoli.php?chiave=201606302&rivista=63
Handle: RePEc:pei:journl:v:24:y:2016:2:8:p:105-124