David Davidson (economist)

David Davidson (11 June 1871 – 28 August 1968) was a Swedish economist known for his contributions to monetary theory, public finance, and the history of economic thought.

Born in Jönköping, Sweden, Davidson received his doctorate from Uppsala University in 1897. He became a professor of economics and statistics at Uppsala University in 1902, a position he held until his retirement in 1936.

Davidson's work on monetary theory explored the causes and consequences of inflation and deflation. He was particularly interested in the role of credit in the business cycle and the effects of government monetary policies. His book Periodeanalysens Grunddrag (Fundamentals of Period Analysis), published in 1933, is considered a seminal work in Swedish economic thought. It outlines a system for analyzing business cycles by dividing the economy into different periods based on the stage of the cycle.

In the field of public finance, Davidson examined the principles of taxation and government spending. He argued for a progressive tax system and for government investment in infrastructure and social welfare programs.

Davidson also made significant contributions to the history of economic thought. He wrote extensively on the works of classical economists such as Adam Smith and David Ricardo, and he played a key role in introducing continental European economic ideas to Swedish scholars. He was a strong proponent of the Austrian School of economics, particularly the work of Carl Menger.

Davidson was a member of the Swedish Academy of Sciences and several other scholarly organizations. His work had a significant influence on Swedish economic policy in the first half of the 20th century. He is considered one of the most important Swedish economists of his era.