WAGNER, ADOLF (1S35—). A Ger man economist. horn at Erlangen. He studied jurisprudence and political science at Giittingen and Heidelberg; in 1858 became professor of political economy and finance at the dal Academy at Vienna ; in 1865 was made professor of statistics at the University of Dorpat; in 1S68 was called to the chair of political science at the University of Freiburg; and in 1870 became professor of political science at the University of Berlin. In the same year he was made a member of the Royal Statistical Bureau of Prussia. From 1882 to ISS5 he was a member of the Prussian Lower House. Ile was one of the founders of the Verein fur Sovial politik.
Wagner's literary work began with studies in finance, his doctor's dissertation being a mono graph on the seience of honking (Reitriige zur Leh re rout den Banker, 1857). In 1860 he lishcd works on social and financial statistics. His work in economics proper began with a re vision of Itaus hrhilf h dcr pot 18C11( n wwir, appearing in 1875 and 1876. In later editions, the work„ which came to bear no direct relation to the original work of Rau, was pub lished under the title Lehr- end Handbuch der politischen Oekonomir, of which the grundlegung was Wagner's own truck (1892-94), as well as the l'inanvrisscnsehaft (in four parts, 1877 19u I, several revised editions of first three parts).
The arum/PI/wig and the Finwtzwisseitschaji are the host known and most ambitious works of Wagner. In addition. he has published a long list of books and articles, ehietly on practical problems of economics and social science.
\Vagner approaches economies from the point of view of jurisprudence and statistics. Ills .iliethod is mainly inductive, although in his t;rundlegung lie shows a marked tendency toward the deductive methods of the theoretical bratty!, of t.contunies. Although sometimes classed with the "Historical School" (see Pounc.i.t. Ecox oitv), he was vigorously opposed to the view that historical and inductive studies make up the wInde of fruitful economic science. In his work on finance lie manifests a decided predilection for the extension of State functions. andlms there fore not infrequently been regarded as a Soeialist: lie recognizes. however, the weaknesses of the pure socialistic theory, and seeks to establish the proper limits of individualism and socialism.