ABSTRACT
The contribution of Francois Quesnay to economic science is overwhelmingly important and is insufficiently appreciated by many economists. From the point of view of dynamic economics, the Tableau Economique is infinitely more relevant than the general equilibrium system of Walras. Unlike that system, the Tableau Economique is capable of handling dynamic, nonequilibrium situations on a macroeconomic scale. In economics, there is a distinction between “positive economics,” which seeks to describe the economic system as it actually is, and “welfare economics,” which attempts to lay down “opti mum” conditions so as to mrucimize “welfare.” Welfare economists might reply that they are aware that income distribution issues are an important factor which should not be ignored. The chapter concludes with some brief comments on the interpretation of the Tableau Economique and the produit net.
