MEMORANDUM

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The basis for the Eisenaufsatz was thus the Versuch paradigm, it had not been abandoned, only modified to provide a somewhat better theoretical approach. In the very first sentence of Eisenaufsatz Leontief cited the Versuch treatise and its Simultan-Methode for statistical analysis of supply and demand curves and stated in a footnote his intention of dealing with the criticism raised against it in an “anti-critical essay” (Leontief 1932, p.66, fn.1). Farewell to Europe At the end of July 1931, Leontief received the galley proofs and wrote to Schumpeter to say that he would send him the pages which covered the theoretical core of the treatise. It was only one month left until Leontief’s scheduled departure for New York on 29 August. He regretted deeply that it had been beyond reach to have a chance to speak with Schumpeter before the departure. He still hoped that Schumpeter would have an opportunity to glance through the extract he had made while it was still possible to make last minute changes. The treatise was above all about changes in economic equilibrium such as they had discussed in Bonn. To finish up the manuscript of the Eisenaufsatz had been strenuous and time consuming and the only piece of work he had got done in addition to a review of Marschak’s book based on his habilitation thesis (Leontief 1931). Marschak’s paper for the forthcoming first Econometric Society meeting at the end of September was based on the book, it was a meeting Leontief would have loved to attend but he was committed to be at work in NBER at that time. 160 At their meeting in Bonn Schumpeter had elaborated on his own work and plans as it is well known that he did in the circle of younger economists around him at Harvard. In his letter to Schumpeter at the end of July 1931 Leontief expressed delight and excitement that Schumpeter’s book on monetary issues (Geldbuch) would soon be finished. He also expressed the hope that Schumpeter would soon issue his 1908 book Das Wesen under der Hauptinhalt … in a new edition, “Es ist so dringend notwendig”. As students of Schumpeter know, the Geld-Buch was never finished and Das Wesen never re-issued. In Schumpeter’s last letter before Leontief’s departure was no longer so hopeful about the Geldbuch, as he had felt nervous and unwell. But in the winter he would devote himself to the new edition of Das Wesen, or rather the new book that would come out of that process, adding, “A pity we cannot cooperate on that”. 161 Schumpeter regretted that he wouldn’t see Leontief again before his departure but hoped he would hear from in on a curve!) would be discarded as insufficiently precise. This was a reference to the sharp criticism of Schultz (1930), which was concerned with Leontief’s results for the sugar market. 160 Leontief to Schumpeter, 28 July 1931. 161 Schumpeter to Leontief, 5 August 1931, transl. by ob. 68
current basis and expressed his willingness to help with whatever he could. He gave Leontief’s his last piece of advice before the arrival in America: “Whatever your inclination is, look around on everyone and everything in America from the viewpoint of a possible lasting relationship. Maybe it will be for you as for others no other possibility. And if you don’t want it, you can turn it down.” 162 Leontief wrote again before departure and enclosed one set of proof sheets for the Eisenaufsatz with apologies for sending his own paper when Schumpeter was so overburdened with his own work but he was so curious about what Schumpeter would think of it. He thanked Schumpeter for his advice and guidance and told him that he was totally determined that before the end of the first year in America he had to find a position which would allow him without great sacrifices to continue his scientific work. Leontief felt vulnerable after seeing other prospects crumble and with a touch of despair begged Schumpeter to write to him if any kind of possibility for something that could provide an income should accidentally turn up while he was away. 163 In August Leontief received from Divisia invitation for the first Econometric Society meeting to be held in Lausanne at the end of September 1931. Much as he wanted to attend he was not able to as his voyage to USA was three weeks before the meeting and couldn’t be postponed without risking losing his NBER fellowship. The departure from Europe also meant separation from the parents for an unknown period. Leontief Sr. stopped working for the Soviet Ministry of Finance at this time, possibly already in 1930. This happened probably as the consequence of an order to return to Moscow. Leontief Sr. had at this time lost his earlier beliefs in more a positive political development in Russia. His change of opinion came through in the reviews he wrote of books about Russia economics and politics. The parents continued to live in Berlin, Leontief Sr. secured teaching assignments at the Berlin University, possibly with the help of Karl Stählin. Leontief left Europe from Bremen aboard Norddeutscher Lloyd’s S.S. Sierra Cordoba, arriving in New York on 9 September, 1931. He had asked Ezekiel to book a room for him at the International House. Simon Kuznets met him on Ellis Island. NBER stepping stone to America Wesley Mitchell (1874-948) had been director of research of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) in New York since it was founded in 1920 with Mitchell as 162 Schumpeter to Leontief, 5 August 1931. 163 Leontief to Schumpeter, 10 August 1931. 69
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MEMORANDUM No 18/2016 Wassily Leont
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Rev-1, November 13, 2016 Wassily Le
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Others have touched upon the questi
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in 1925, or, for that matter, Germa
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the Leontief family within the trad
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From the beginning of 1905 Wassily
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passport issued just before he left
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finances. 26 Before he got the posi
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mostly civilians. 33 Needless to em
Page 19 and 20: Boisguilbert”. He stated further
Page 21 and 22: student had conveyed a very positiv
Page 23 and 24: “In his work, Leontief revealed e
Page 25 and 26: extended studies in Berlin, he has
Page 27 and 28: ecognized as equivalent to the Abit
Page 29 and 30: Kurt Breysig (b.1866) was historian
Page 31 and 32: years, we denote them by the key wo
Page 33 and 34: assertions there were further artic
Page 35 and 36: letter was returned after two days
Page 37 and 38: laws. In other words the candidate
Page 39 and 40: As the candidate remarks, this impo
Page 41 and 42: process was delayed. In September 1
Page 43 and 44: framework for applied demand and su
Page 45 and 46: observations would be sufficiently
Page 47 and 48: As soon as the July 1929 issue of W
Page 49 and 50: Leontief returned from Shanghai alo
Page 51 and 52: express myself clearer than that.
Page 53 and 54: on 9 September for Harvard and rema
Page 55 and 56: Economist with the Federal Farm Boa
Page 57 and 58: Leontief. He wrote to Irving Fisher
Page 59 and 60: e advisable to submit copies of all
Page 61 and 62: with interesting colleagues, die Ki
Page 63 and 64: times and received suggestions for
Page 65 and 66: very soon, before the end of April.
Page 67 and 68: progress. He then had a meeting wit
Page 69: Another emphasis in the article on
Page 73 and 74: Just as Leontief arrived NBER plung
Page 75 and 76: Leontief enjoyed New York. At Leont
Page 77 and 78: offer from Harvard may well have di
Page 79 and 80: Wassily Leontief is carrying out ce
Page 81 and 82: Enchanted at Harvard Leontief’s p
Page 83 and 84: European man.” A vote was taken o
Page 85 and 86: Leontief had not yet published a si
Page 87 and 88: Leontief spoke to an audience at Ha
Page 89 and 90: Another Schumpeter initiative soon
Page 91 and 92: The outline was as follows: “The
Page 93 and 94: * * * One year later, in February 1
Page 95 and 96: I have just read the manuscript of
Page 97 and 98: Frisch to Leontief, 8 February 1934
Page 99 and 100: Schumpeter responded: “Dear Frisc
Page 101 and 102: Project a) was about the completion
Page 103 and 104: * * * Wassily and Estelle went on a
Page 105 and 106: several topics is very similar to t
Page 107 and 108: considered to illuminate the calcul
Page 109 and 110: The Structure of American Economy F
Page 111 and 112: term in Berkeley and the second in
Page 113 and 114: A part of the original Leontief man
Page 115 and 116: Bureaus post defense studies. 240 I
Page 117 and 118: Leontief Harvard period lasted unti
Page 119 and 120: Frisch, Ragnar. 1936. Annual survey
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Leontief, W. 1932. Studien über di
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Rutherford, Malcolm. 2004. Institut
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MEMORANDUM

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