After addressing the economic aspects of consumption (2000-2001) and the problems of understanding the conditions of production (2001-2002), the lecture then turned its attention to markets, successively reviewing labor and insurance markets (2002-2003), goods markets and oligopolistic competition (2003-2004) and finally financial markets (2004-2006). This year's focus shifts from the elements of a system, the markets, to the system itself, the market, or, in the vocabulary of the profession, from partial equilibrium to general equilibrium.
The problem of general equilibrium, even if the subject may appear superficially old-fashioned, is at the heart of the construction of the discipline of economics. It permeates contemporary economic culture, from macroeconomic theory to growth theory and international trade theory. These topics will be on the agenda of next year's lecture.
This year's lecture takes stock of the Walrasian-inspired abstract model of general equilibrium, as revitalized by modern economic theory. It critically examines the merits and limitations of the model. The seminars will shed light on the historical construction of the model, as well as on related applications and issues.
It is thus aimed at those who wish to have a general view of the subject, whether they are relatively far removed from it, or, being closer, seek to distance themselves from it. Ideally, it should be of interest, for example, to specialists in the history of thought, teacher-researchers wishing to take stock of the field, as well as researchers and thesis students working on related subjects.