Statistical Method in the Analysis of Problems of the “Social Economy” in Kondratieff ’s and Slutsky’s Works

Abstract

The article studies the important (for resurrection of Russian tradition of economic analysis) problem of relationship between the ideas of N.D. Kondratieff and E.E. Slutsky during the period 1910–1930s. The problem is considered in the frames of statistical method used by both scientists. The attention is focused on two features of method’s application, namely the correlation theory and interpretations of the large numbers law. Instead of widely-known summative approach to the intellectual heritage of the scientists, genetic approach is used. Historical context related with A.A. Tchouprow and his adepts — N.S. Chetverikov and О.N. Anderson — is added. Th e article continues the series of research submitted in the previously published collections: Kondratieff ’s «Suzdal Letters, 1932–1938» (2004), «Kondratieff ’s Conjuncture Institute: Selected works» (2010) and Slutsky’s «Selected economic and statistical works» (2010).

Keywords:

history of Russian economic thought, statistical method in the social economy, Slutsky, Kondratieff, correlation theory, law of large numbers