FOLIO I · THINKER · GEN. 03 · N° 033

Karl Schlesinger

Works
1
Articles
5
Generation
3.
KS
FOL. 03 · N° 033 · Karl Schlesinger
BIOGRAPHY

Life and Work

Karl Schlesinger (one of the most outstanding figures associated with the Austrian School, though as an economist almost forgotten today) fled to Vienna from the Hungarian Soviet Republic, pursued a career in banking, and ultimately served as deputy director of the Anglo-Austrian Bank and as chairman of the bankers' association. Although he was close to the Lausanne School and had mathematical interests, he promoted the Austrian School. As a specialist in banking and currency matters, he published on questions of monetary theory, currency policy, and banking, and from 1933/34 studied mathematics under Abraham Wald. His paper Über die Produktionsgleichungen der ökonomischen Wertlehre (1934; On the Production Equations of Economic Value Theory) became an essential foundation for neoclassical equilibrium analysis. On the day of the Anschluss, Karl Schlesinger took his own life.
Metadata
Born
19. Januar 1889
in Budapest
Died
12. März 1938
in Wien
Generation
Generation 3
Life stations

Stations

  1. 1889
    1889
    Birth · Budapest
    Birth

    Born on 19 January 1889 in Budapest.[1]

  2. ⁦1908–1914⁩
    ⁦1908–1914⁩
    Studies · Wien
    Studies in Law and Economics— approximate

    Studies in law and economics at the University of Vienna under Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk.[3]

  3. 1914
    1914
    Doctorate · Wien
    Doctorate under Böhm-Bawerk

    Doctorate in law (Dr. iuris) at the University of Vienna in 1914 under Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk; a dissertation on monetary and credit economics using a mathematical approach.[3]

  4. 1914
    1914
    Publication · Wien
    <em>Theorie der Geld- und Kreditwirtschaft</em> (Theory of the Monetary and Credit Economy)

    His first work, <em>Theorie der Geld- und Kreditwirtschaft</em> (1914) – an early mathematical treatment of monetary and credit theory; it anticipated the distinction between transaction and precautionary cash balances.[1]

  5. 1919
    1919
    Emigration · Wien
    Flight from Hungary to Vienna

    Fled to Vienna from the Hungarian Soviet Republic.[1]

  6. ⁦1919–1938⁩
    ⁦1919–1938⁩
    Career · Wien
    Banking Career in Vienna

    Pursued a banking career in Vienna, latterly as deputy director of the Anglo-Austrian Bank and as chairman of the banking association. As an expert in banking and currency, he published on questions of monetary theory, currency policy, and banking.

  7. ⁦1920–1934⁩
    ⁦1920–1934⁩
    Conference · Wien
    Mises Private Seminar— approximate

    A participant in Ludwig von Mises's private seminar during the 1920s and 1930s.[2]

  8. 1931
    1931
    Studies · Wien
    Private Mathematics Lessons with Karl Menger

    In 1931 he engaged the mathematician Karl Menger as a private tutor.[1]

  9. ⁦1933–1934⁩
    ⁦1933–1934⁩
    Studies · Wien
    Mathematics Studies under Abraham Wald

    From 1933/34 he studied mathematics under Abraham Wald, although he was close to the Lausanne School and showed mathematical interests. He promoted the Austrian School.

  10. 1934
    1934
    Publication · Wien
    <em>Über die Produktionsgleichungen der ökonomischen Wertlehre</em> (On the Production Equations of Economic Value Theory)

    His paper <em>Über die Produktionsgleichungen der ökonomischen Wertlehre</em> (1934) became an essential foundation for neoclassical equilibrium analysis.

  11. 1938
    1938
    Death · Wien
    Death (suicide on the day of the Anschluss)

    Died by suicide in Vienna on the day of the Anschluss (12 March 1938).[1]

Relationships

Influences

Influenced by · 2
  1. ⁦1908–1914⁩
    ⁦1908–1914⁩
    Doctoral advisor

    Studied and took his doctorate in 1914 at the University of Vienna under Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk; dissertation on the monetary and credit economy with a mathematical approach.

  2. —
    —
    Academic influence
    Léon Walras⁦(1834–1910)⁩ · Lausanner Schule

    He stood close to the Lausanne School (Walras) and showed mathematical interests; despite his closeness to Lausanne he promoted the Austrian School.

Private seminar, colleagues, Mont Pèlerin · 1
  1. ⁦1920–1934⁩
    ⁦1920–1934⁩
    Private seminar

    Schlesinger nahm am Privatseminar Ludwig von Mises' in Wien teil (Wikipedia EN bestätigt).

Karl Schlesinger in the context of the School as a whole: five generations, their teacher-student lineages, circles and collegial ties.

Show in the family tree →
SOURCES ON STATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS10 citations · 4 sources
Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon· 1
Buch (Sekundärliteratur)· 1
  • [3]Hagemann/Krohn (Hrsg.) 1999: Biographisches Handbuch, S. 615–618 · 2×
Topography

Places of Activity

CATALOGUE OF WORKS · CHRONOLOGICAL

The Books

1910s
1914
25 yrs.
Theorie der Geld- und Kreditwirtschaft
Book
OriginalGerman
ARTICLES · 5 CATALOGUED

Essays, Reviews, Lectures

1910s
1916
27 yrs.
Die Veränderungen des Geldwertes im Kriege
Article
OriginalGerman
1930s
1931
42 yrs.
Bankpolitik
Article
OriginalGerman
Das Rätsel der französischen Goldpolitik
Article
OriginalGerman
1935
46 yrs.
Über die Produktionsgleichungen der ökonomischen Wertlehre
Article
OriginalGerman
1936
47 yrs.
Ein Beitrag zu Mengers Bemerkungen zu den Ertragsgesetzen
Article
OriginalGerman
Cite this page

Three copy-ready formats with the canonical URL and access date.

APA
Karl Schlesinger. (n.d.). Edited by mises.at and scholarium. Accessed July 20, 2026, from https://mises.at/en/denker/karl-schlesinger
Chicago
“Karl Schlesinger.” n.d. Edited by mises.at and scholarium. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://mises.at/en/denker/karl-schlesinger.
German historical style
Karl Schlesinger, edited by mises.at and scholarium, https://mises.at/en/denker/karl-schlesinger (accessed July 20, 2026).