Benoit Mandelbrot (1924 - 2010): A Greek among Romans

Estrada, Fernando (2011): Benoit Mandelbrot (1924 - 2010): A Greek among Romans. Forthcoming in: Journal History of Economic Ideas , Vol. XIX, (February 2011): pp. 1-6.

Abstract

In this brief note describes the trajectory of the fractal models/multifractal F/M by Benoit Mandelbrot. The promise was discovered by the geometry of Mandelbrot covers a broad area of research fields, from meteorology and mathematical physics to the individual and collective behavior in society, besides his contributions to the analysis of the financial crisis in his wonderful essay on «The (mis) Behavior of Markets. A fractal view of Risk, Ruin and Reward» (2004). Mandelbrot’s arguments have revealed significant anomalies in the prevailing paradigms. Is this a new paradigm in Kuhn’s sense as stated by the same Mandelbrot?

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Mandelbrot, Fractals, Finance, Financial Markets, Epistemology, Thomas Kuhn.
• Subjects: B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B1 - History of Economic Thought through 1925 > B10 - General; B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B0 - General; B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B4 - Economic Methodology; C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C7 - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory > C70 - General; C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C7 - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory; G - Financial Economics > G0 - General > G00 - General; G - Financial Economics > G0 - General > G01 - Financial Crises; D - Microeconomics > D7 - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making; B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B1 - History of Economic Thought through 1925 > B16 - Quantitative and Mathematical; G - Financial Economics > G3 - Corporate Finance and Governance > G32 - Financing Policy ; Financial Risk and Risk Management ; Capital and Ownership Structure ; Value of Firms ; Goodwill; G - Financial Economics > G0 - General; B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B4 - Economic Methodology > B41 - Economic Methodology

References

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