For most economists at Chicago, Marshall was simply an input, the supplier of an approach to economic analysis. For Ronald Coase, however, Marshall was much more than this - a subject of fascination and, at times, almost a reverence and obsession. Trained in the late 1920s and early 1930s at the...

We examine Coase's biographical work on Marshall and his discussions of Marshall's economics for clues as to the sources of Coase's affinity for Marshall. And as we shall see, the evidence suggests explanations that are at once personal and professional.

For most economists at Chicago, Marshall was simply an input, the supplier of an approach to economic analysis. For Ronald Coase, however, Marshall was much more than this — a subject of fascination and, at times, almost a reverence and obsession. Trained in the late 1920s and early 1930s at...