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At 16:49 14/9/99, J. Barkley Rosser, Jr. wrote:  
> Streissler makes no reference at all, at least in the IEA paper, to  
> Gossen.  Where does he fit in and why do many English language  
> sources make this apparently silly claim about him?  More  
> entrenched textbook errors a la Stigler?   
 
These issues are discussed in Yukihiro Ikeda's paper on the  
'Wirkungsgeschichte' of Hermann Heinrich Gossen, forthcoming in  
'Journal of Economic Studies'.  Gossen worked in complete isolation  
and did not have an academic position.  I also think that only few  
copies of his book have been printed.  These elements help explain  
why he was ignored in his days.  In 1878 Adamson 'rediscovered'  
Gossen and informed Jevons; Jevons informed Walras on the existence  
of the book.  Therefore, there is no direct influence of Gossen on  
Jevons or Walras, as their principal works were first published in 1871  
and 1874 respectively (moreover Jevons formed his basic ideas in the  
early 1860's).  Ikeda writes that Menger got information on Gossen  
from the Dutch economist d'Aulnis, who corresponded with Jevons  
and Walras as well.  Menger bought a copy of the book in 1886.   
Although Menger referred to Gossen in 1887, he remained indifferent to  
marginal utility theory and mathematical methods.   
 
Bert Mosselmans 
 
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