Albert O. Hirschman and the Origins of the Possibilist Economy

The purpose of this article is to describe the origins of Possibilist Economics through a brief
biographical account of the development of the ideas of Albert Otto Hirschman, the economist who
was the founding father of this new branch of economics. The reader is also offered a description of
the historical context in which Hirschman worked and developed his ideas.
Objective: Describe how Possibilist Economics came about and what the method of Possibilist
Economics is.
Methods: The main method used for the development of this research is both deductive and
inductive, i.e. a use of both classical research tools. The line followed is that of analysis made through
the biographical path and historical context in which the economist of Possibilism. The research is
based both on the analyses and study of the numerous books and articles written by A.O. Hirschman
and on the direct experience of research and work that the authors of this article have carried out with
Hirschman himself and with Luca Meldolesi (Italian economist and historian), the latter considered to
be Hirschman's greatest collaborator and divulger in the world.
Results and their significance: The research is an introduction to the fundamentals of the
possibilist economics model