This book investigates the extent to which Leon Walras incorporated evolutionary concepts into his mathematical framework of general equilibrium. Albert Jolink, an expert in the history of economic thought, examines the intellectual development of Walras by analyzing his correspondence, published works, and the specific influence of 19th-century biological and social theories on his economic modeling. The author argues that Walras's work contains a tension between static equilibrium analysis and dynamic evolutionary processes that has been largely overlooked in standard interpretations.

Scholars in the history of economic thought recognize this work as a rigorous examination of the intellectual origins of Walrasian economics. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for specialists familiar with the technical nuances of general equilibrium theory.