Walras's Law of Markets as Special Case of the General Period Core Theorem

12 Pages Posted: 23 Feb 2013 Last revised: 2 May 2015

See all articles by Egmont Kakarot-Handtke

Egmont Kakarot-Handtke

University of Stuttgart - Institute of Economics and Law

Date Written: February 21, 2013

Abstract

From the set of the first three structural axioms follows the Period Core theorem. It asserts that the product of the key ratios, which characterize the firm, the market outcome, and the income distribution, is always equal to unity.The theorem contains only unit-free variables, is testable in principle, and involves no behavioral assumptions. The differentiated Period Core theorem applies to an arbitrary number of firms. Therefrom Walras’s Law can be derived without recourse to demand and supply functions or the notion of equilibrium. It is shown that the familiar interpretation is methodologically illegitimate.

Keywords: new framework of concepts, structure-centric, axiom set, market clearing, product market, labor market, full employment, wage rate flexibility

JEL Classification: C00, D40, D50

Suggested Citation

Kakarot-Handtke, Egmont, Walras's Law of Markets as Special Case of the General Period Core Theorem (February 21, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2222123 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2222123

Egmont Kakarot-Handtke (Contact Author)

University of Stuttgart - Institute of Economics and Law ( email )

Keplerstrasse 17
Stuttgart
Germany