I have a query for economic historians. Please post any replies to my email address below. Approximately when did the concept of discounting future income streams to arrive at present value become a commonplace among economists? I am particularly interested in identifying the time, within a decade, when lawyers might begin picking up the concept from economists. The earliest pertinent reference I have found is in John R. Commons, The Legal Foundations of Capitalism (1924), but I suspect that the idea is older than that, and that a sophisticated lawyer like Louis D. Brandeis could have been thinking in those terms before World War I. Any comments? I thank youi in advance for your trouble. William M. Wiecek Syracuse University College of Law [log in to unmask] (315) 443-4108 FAX: (315) 443-5394