Papers and Correspondence of William Stanley Jevons: Volume 3: Correspondence, 1863-1872

Jevons was a proponent of a famous theory on utility infair exchanges. His work was mathematical and statisticalin nature. He argued:"If a person has any useful object, but an object belonging to another person would have greater utility, he will be glad to give the one in return for the other. But it is a necessary condition that the other person will likewise gain, or at least not lose by the exchange."In addition, he concluded that:"A balance of utility on both sides will lead to an exchange."A brief account of a general mathematical theory of politicaleconomy was presented in the Journal of the Royal StatisticalSociety of London in June of 1866 pp. 282-287This work summarizes some of Jevons' more importantcorrespondence and personal papers. It serves as an excellentreference for economic theorists, historians and econometricians.These papers will complement any course in economic theoryby providing the personal dimension of the author as enunciatedin the original writings. The fact that some of the paperswere published just after Lincoln's Presidency will add anadditional dimension for exploration by professional historians.