Developments of International Trade Theory

Takashi Negishi A member of the Japan Academy, professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo, former president of the Econometric Society, and former president of The Japanese Society for the History of Economic Thought. Professor Negishi was awarded the Nikkei Prize for Economics Books in 1973, the Japan Academy Prize in 1993, the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star in 2008, and the Order of Culture in 2014. Major journal articles include “Welfare Economics and Existence of an Equilibrium for a Competitive Economy” (Metroeconomica, June 12, 1960, 92–97) and “The Stability of a Competitive Economy: A Survey Article” (Econometrica Vol. 30, No. 4, Oct. 1962, pp. 635–669). Professor Negishi is the author of several books, including General Equilibrium Theory and International Trade (1972, North-Holland Publishing; Received the Nikkei Prize for Economics Books), History of Economic Theory (1989, North-Holland Publishing; Received the Japan Academy Prize), and Collected Essays of Takashi Negishi, three volumes (1994 and 2000, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.). Professor Negishi taught and conducted research at Stanford University, the University of Tokyo, the University of New South Wales, the University of Minnesota, and the London School of Economics. His major contributions range from general equilibrium theory and welfare economics (existence, optimality, and stability), theory of monopolistic competitions (kinked demand curves), and micro foundations of Keynesian macroeconomics, to the history of economics. For the details of these contributions, see the International Journal of Economic Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2, June 2008: “A Special Issue on Social Welfare, Market Equilibrium and Stability in Honor of Professor Takashi Negishi.”

Historical Progress of International Trade Theory.- Mercantilism.- Specie-flow Mechanism.- Adam Smith and Division of Labour.- Ricardo and Comparative Costs.- J.S. Mill and Reciprocal Demand.- Mill and Infant Industry.- Marx and International Exploitation.- Marshall and Offer Curve.- Modern Theory and Recent Developments of International Trade.- Theory of Production.- Heckscher–Ohlin Theory (1).- Heckscher–Ohlin Theory (2).- Leontief Paradox.- Domestic Distortions.- Export Promotion and Welfare.- Oligopoly.- Immiserizing Growth.- External Economies.- Historical Appendix.- Adam Smith and Disequilibrium Economic Theory.- Complete Specialization in Classical Economics.