The history of the Oxford challenge to marginalism, 1934-1952
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13133/2037-3643/10518Keywords:
Research, Microeconomics, Neoclassical economics, Henderson, HubertAbstract
Economist Hubert Henderson founded Oxford University's Economics Research Group (OERG). The OERG had a history of contesting neoclassical cost and pricing theory as articulated by P.W.S. Andrews, beginning when Hubert Henderson started relying on experiments instead of established data. Henderson and the OERG members were surprised that businessmen disregarded the marginalist model of pricing. Marginalism remains a valid economic theory to this day.
JEL: B20
References
ANDREWS, P.W.S. 1958. "Competition in the Modern Economy". Competitive Aspects 01
Oil Operations - Report 01 the Summer Meeting 01 the Institute 01 Petroleum held at
Scarborough, 4thM6th June 1958, 1-42. Edited by George Sello London: The Institute
of Petroleum.
ANDREWS, P.W.S. 1964. On Competition in Economie Theory. London: Macmillan.
ANDREWS, P.W.S. 1966. "P.W.S. Andrews: Proof of Evidence". Books Are Different,
-607. Edited by R.E. Barker and G.R. Davies. London: Macmillan.
ANDREWS, P.W.S. and BRUNNER, EUZABETH. 1951. Capitai Development in Steel: A Study
The United Steel Companies Ltd. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
ANDREWS, P.W.S. and FRIDAY, FRANK A. 1960. Fair Trade: Resale Priee Maintenance
Re-examined. London: Macmillan & Co. Ltd.
BARNA, TIBOR. 1945. Profits During and After the War. London: Fabian Publications Ltd.
and V. Gollancz Ltd.
BRETHERToN, RF. 1980. Personal communication. May 20.
EDWARDS, HARRY R. 1962. Competition and Monopoly in the British Soap Industry. Oxford:
Clarendon Presso
EITEMAN, WILFORD J. 1949. Price Determination: Business Praetice versus Economie
Theory. Bureau of Business Research, no. 16. Ann Arbol': University of
Michigan.
HALL, R.L. and HITCH, C,J. 1939. ('Price Theory and Business Behaviour". Oxlord
Economie Papers 2 (May): 12-45.
HARGREAVES, E.L. 1973. Memoirs. Oxford: Bocardo Presso
lIARROD, Roy F. 1935. Lettet to Hubert Henderson. Februaty 25. Hubett D. Henderson
Papets. Nuffield College, Oxford.
HARROD, Roy F. 1936. Letter to Hubert Henderson. Febtuaty 20. Hubett D. Henderson
Papers. Nuffield College, Oxford.
lIARROD, Roy F. 1952. ('Theoty of Imperfect Competition Revised". Economie Essays,
nd ed., 139-187. London: The Macmillan Ptess Ltd.
HARROD, Roy F. 1953. "The Pte-War Faculty". Oxlord Economie Papers: Supplement on
Sir Hubert Henderson 1890-1952. 5: 59-64.
HARROD, Roy F. 1972. Economie Essays. 2nd ed. London: Macmillan Press Ltd.
HENDERSON, HUBERT. 1931. "The State of Economics". The Inter-War Years and Other
Papers: A Selection From the Writings of Hubert Douglas Henderson, 78-80. Edited by
SiI' Henry CIay. Oxfotd: Clarendon Press, 1955.
HENDERSON, HUBERT D. 1935. Lettet to Roy Hanod. February 20. Hubert D. Henderson
Papers. Nuffield College, Oxford.
HENDERSON, HUBERT D. 1936a. "Institute for Statistics and Oxford Economists' Research
Group: Applications to the Rockefel1er Foundation." November 21. Rockefel1er
Foundation Atchives. R.G. 1.1. Series 401S. Trade and Business Cycle File.
Rockefeller Archive Center, Notth Tarrytown, New York.
HENDERSON, HUBERT D. 1936b. Letter to SiI' Malcolm McAlpine. Dècember 18. Hubert
D. Henderson Papers. Nuffield College, Oxford.
HENDERSON, HUBERT D. 1937. Letter to R. H. Brand. Match 31. Hubert D. Henderson
Papers. Nuffield College, Oxford.
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro
ANDREWS, P.W.S. 1939. Letter to J. Willits, June 3. Rockefeller Foundadon Arcmves.
R.G. 1.1 Series 4015. Business Cycle File. Rockefeller Archive Center, North
Tarrytown, New York.
ANDREWS, P.W.S. 1949a. "A Reconsideration af tbe Theory af the IndividuaI Business",
Oxford Economie Papers 1 (Tanuary): 54w89.
ANDREWS, P.W,S. 1949b. Manufacturing Business. Landoo: Macmillan & Co. Ltd.
ANDREWS, P.W.S. 1951. "IndustriaI Analysis in Economics With Espedal Reference to
Marshallian Doctdne", Oxford Studies in the Price Mechanism, 139-172. Edited by
P.W.S. Andrews aod T. Wilson. Oxford: Clarendon Presso
ANDREWS, P.W.S. 1952a. The Netherland Lectures, P.W.S. Andrews Papers. London
School of Economics, London.
ANDREWS, P.W.S. 1952b. The Legacy of the 1930s in Economics. P.W.S. Andrews
Papers. London School of Economics, London.
much concerned with the larger picture of a non-neoclassical theory
of prices, but with particular facets of the doctrine. P. Sylos Labini
(1962) and H.R. Edwards (1962) dealt with the determination of the
costing margin, while W.]. Eiteman (1949) and ].B. Williams (1967)
dealt with the questions of sequential production, firm reproduction
and firm growth. In addition, R. Robinson (1961 and 1978) and G.B.
Richardson (1960, 1965 and 1967) analyzed the role of socialtules
and social institutions on the determination of the normal cost market
price. The outcome of both lines of development resulted in a
well-developed doctrine of normal cost prices which was quite dlfferent
from the myth propagated by neoclassical economists and
found in price theory textbooks (Lee, 1984; Lee, et al., 1986).
These subsequent theoretical developments of the full cost princlple
and Andrews' theory of manufacturing business suggest that the
initial optimism regarding the anti-marginalist features of full cost and
normal cost pricing procedures was justified. The Oxford challenge
should be looked at again, but this time with a mind not biased by an
implicit assumption that any new idea has to be reframed in terms of
the neoclassical paradigm, If it is to be acceptd.
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro The History oE thc Oxford Challange to Marginalism, 1934·1952 511
HENDERSON, HUBERT D. 1938a. Letter ta Tracy Kittredge. January 26. Hubert D.
Henderson Papers. Nuffield College, Oxford.
HENDERSON, HUBERT D. 1938b. "The Significance af the Rate af Interest". Oxford
Economie Papers 1 (October); 1-13.
HENDERSON, HUBERT D. 1939. Letter ta R. H. Brand. JuIy 22. Hubert D. Henderson
Papers. Nuffield College, Oxford.
HOWSON, SUSAN aod WINCH, DONALD. 1977. The Economie Advisory CounciI1930-1939.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Presso
KALECKI, M. 1943. Studies in Economie Dynamics. Londoo: George Alleo & Unwin Ltd.
KITTREDGE, TRACY B. 1934. Letter ta Joho V. Van Sickle. Novembet 27. Rockefeller
Foundadon Archives. RG.!.!. Series 401S. Social Sdence Files. Rock:efeller Archive
Center, North Tarrytown, New York.
KITTREDGE, TRACY B. 1935. Lettet to John V. Van SickIe. February 19. Roek:efeller
Foundadon Atchives. R.G.1.1. Series 401S. Sodal Science Files. Rockefel1er Al"
chive Center, North Tarrytown, New York.
KITTREDGE, TRACY B. 1936. Research Project at Oxford Relating to Business Cycle
Problems. November 16. Rockefellet Foundadon Archives. R.G. 1.1. Series 401S.
Trade and Business Cycle Files. Rockefeller Archive Center, North Tarrytown,
New York.
KITTREDGE, TRACY B. 1937. AppIication for Appropriation for Business Cycle Research
Program, University of Oxford. January 5. Rockefeller Foundation Archives. R.G.
1. Series 401S. Trade and Business Cycle Files. Rockefel1er Archive Center, North
Tarrytown, New York.
KOUTSOYIANNIS, A. 1975. Modern Microeconomies. London: Macmillan
LEE, FREDERIC S. 1984. "Full Cost Pricing: A New Wine in a New Bottle". Australian
Economie Papers 24 (June): 151·166.
LEE, FREDERIC S. 1989. "D. H. MacGregor and the Firm: A Neglected Chapter in the
History of the Post Keynesian Theory of the Firm. British Review 01 Economie
Issues 11 (Spring): 21-47.
LEE, FREDERIC S. 1991. "Philip Waiter Sawlord Andrews, 1914-1971". Unpuhlished.
LEE, F.S. and IRVING~LESSMANN,J. 1992. "The Fate of an Errant Hypothesis: The Nprmal
Cost Prices Doctrine". History 01 Political Economy 24 (Spring).
LEE, F.S. et. al. 1986. "P.W.S. Andrews's Theory of Competitive Oligopoly: A New
Interpretaclon". British Review 01 Economie Issues 8 (Autumn): 13·39.
MEADE, JE. and ANDREWS, P.W.S. 1938. "Summary af Replies to Questions on Effects of
Interest Rates". Oxlord Economie Papers 1 (October): 14·31.
PHELPS BROWN, E.H. 1936a. Letter to Hubett Henderson. July 17. Hubert D.
Henderson Papers. Nuffield College, Oxfotd.
PHELPS BROWN, E.H. 1936b. Letter to Hubert Henderson. Novembet 31. Hubert D.
Henderson Papers. Nuffield College, Oxford.
PHELPS BROWN, E.H. 1937. Lettet to Wesley Mitchell. October 24. Wesley C. Mitchell
Papers. Columbia University, New York.
PHELPS BROWN, E.H. 1979. Personal communication. August 1979.
PHELPS BROWN, E.H. 1980. Interview. Oxford. May 19.
PHELPS BROWN, E.H. 1986. Intetview. Oxford. July 31.
RICHAROSON, GEORGE B. 1960. Inlormation and Investment. Oxford: Oxford University
Presso
RICHAROSON, GEORGE B. 1965. "The Theory of Restrictive Trade Practices". Oxlord
Economie Papers 17 (November): 432-449.
RICHARDSON, GEORGE B. 1967. "Priee Notification Schemes". Oxlord Economie Papers
: 359-369.
ROBERTHALL, LoRO ROBERT. 1979. Personal communication. October 3.
ROBERTHALL, LoRO ROBERT. 1980a. Petsonal communication. ApriI 2.
ROBERTHALL, LORD ROBERT. 1980b. Interview. London. May 15.
ROBINSON, AUSTIN. 1950. "The Pricing af Manufactured Products". Economie Journal
(December): 771-780.
ROBINSON, ROMNEY. 1961. "The Economics of Disequilibtium Price". The Quarterly
Journal 01 Economies 75 (May): 199-233.
ROBINSON, ROMNEY. 1978. "The Theory of Imperfect Markets Reconsidered". Journal 01
Economie Issues 12 (December): 871-890.
SAXTON, C. CUVE. 1942. The Economics ofPriee Determination. Oxford: Oxford Uni·
versity Presso
SHACKLE, G.L.S. 1979. Personal cammunication. July 11.
SHACKLE, G.L.S. 1980. Personal cammunication. ApriI 16.
STREETEN, PAUL. 1949. "The Theory of Pricing". Jahrbueher lur Nationalokonomie und
Statistik 161: 161-187.
SYLOS LABINI, PAOLO. 1962. Oligopoly and Teehnieal Progresso Revised Edition, 1969.
Cambtidge: Harvard University Presso
WILLlAMS, JOHN B. 1967. "The Path to Equilibrium". Quarterly Journal 01 Economies
(May): 241-255.
WILSON, T. 1948. "Private Enterprise and the Theory af Value". Manehester Sehool 01
Economie and Social Studies 16 (May): 165·191 .
WORSWICK, G.DN. 1944. "The StabUity and Fiexihility 01 FuU Empioyment". The
Eeonomics 01 Full Employment: 59·84. Oxfotd: BasiI Blackwell