Between Carl Menger and Peter Struve: On Russian liberal economics

The Russian-Speaking scientific emigration after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 has not been the subject of a systematic analysis. The Russian émigré economists made important contributions to the «high economic theory» and they were essential for the formation of the economic communities and traditions in several Southeast and Central European countries (Bulgaria, former Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Romania). The majority of Russian economists studied in Germany and Austria, and shared liberal economic views. Our interest in these economists is the result of the observation that their research offers an interesting attempt for the liberal synthesis of the main ideas of the Austrian School (especially those of Carl Menger) and the key insights of Russian economic thought, especially the original economic and sociological system of Peter Struve. That synthesis could be considered as a missed opportunity for the further development of the liberal theory, because for many reasons it remained isolated. In this article we analyze the contributions of two main representatives of this theoretical stream, namely Simeon Demostenov (1886-1966) and Naum Dolynski (1890-1968). © Copyright by Fabrizio Serra editore, Pisa. Roma.