I Wicksells skugga: Emil Sommarin

Abstract

In the shadow of Wicksell: Emil Sommarin

When the great Knut Wicksell had retired from his chair in economics and fiscal law at Lund University he was succeeded by his former student Emil Sommarin in 1919. The relationship between them is investigated. They were friends and ideologically both took leftist positions, Wicksell as a radical Liberal and Sommarin as a Social Democrat. However, their scientific approach differed, and there is no sign of scientific influence between them although they to a great extent praised each other’s contributions. Wicksell was instrumental in developing different parts of neoclassical theory. Sommarin was rather an empiric, close to the historical school in economics.