Central Economic Mathematical Institute
Encyclopedia
The Central Economic Mathematical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
is an economic research institute located in Moscow
. It focuses on economic theory, mathematical economics and econometrics
. The CEMI was established in 1963 as an institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR
, superseding the Laboratory of Economics and Mathematical Methods which had been founded by Vasily Sergeevich Nemchinov
in 1958. In 1964 a branch of the institute was created in Tallinn
, and in 1966 Leningrad
branch was established.
"When the Institute was founded in 1963, its main goal was to elaborate the theory of optimal management of the economy, applying mathematical methods and the use of computers to the task of practical planning." In fact, the initial founding vision of the Institute was more ambitious. Of six founding research objectives mentioned by Fedorenko in his 1964, three of them directly bore on the "development of a unified system of economic information", the "design and creation of a unified state network of computer centers", and "Derivation of specialized planning and management systems based on mathematical methods and computer technology." Although its failure has since obscured this history, the Institute was initially meant to be the leading organization charged with creating a nationwide economic information network.
Nowadays CEMI's focus has been on the transition period from communism to capitalism in Russia, and on microeconomic models and models of enterprises' behaviour. The so-called System of Optimal Functioning of the Economy (SOFE), with its mathematical planning approach based on methods developed by Leonid Kantorovich
and its IT approach, was intensively discussed during Soviet times. It was objected to by Marxist economists as representatives of the Political Economy, who were afraid that the mathematical formula approach was too close to Western economics, and might lead to Soviet economics converting to Western economics, which also rely on mathematical formulas. CEMI's first director was N.P. Fedorenko. In 1985 he was succeeded by the Russian academic V.L. Makarov, who still directs the institute.
Academic N.P. Fedorenko and other Russian scientists have issued many books on SOFE; most of them are in Russian.
CEMI headquarters features alto-relievo mosaic composition Möbius Strip
on its facade, created by architect Leonid Pavlov and painters–monumentalists V. Vasiltsov and E. Zharenova in 1976.
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
is an economic research institute located in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. It focuses on economic theory, mathematical economics and econometrics
Econometrics
Econometrics has been defined as "the application of mathematics and statistical methods to economic data" and described as the branch of economics "that aims to give empirical content to economic relations." More precisely, it is "the quantitative analysis of actual economic phenomena based on...
. The CEMI was established in 1963 as an institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
, superseding the Laboratory of Economics and Mathematical Methods which had been founded by Vasily Sergeevich Nemchinov
Vasily Sergeevich Nemchinov
Vasily Sergeevich Nemchinov was a Soviet economist and mathematician. Nemchinov is credited with introducing mathematical methods into Soviet economics, thus creating a scientific basis for central planning.-Biography:...
in 1958. In 1964 a branch of the institute was created in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, and in 1966 Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
branch was established.
"When the Institute was founded in 1963, its main goal was to elaborate the theory of optimal management of the economy, applying mathematical methods and the use of computers to the task of practical planning." In fact, the initial founding vision of the Institute was more ambitious. Of six founding research objectives mentioned by Fedorenko in his 1964, three of them directly bore on the "development of a unified system of economic information", the "design and creation of a unified state network of computer centers", and "Derivation of specialized planning and management systems based on mathematical methods and computer technology." Although its failure has since obscured this history, the Institute was initially meant to be the leading organization charged with creating a nationwide economic information network.
Nowadays CEMI's focus has been on the transition period from communism to capitalism in Russia, and on microeconomic models and models of enterprises' behaviour. The so-called System of Optimal Functioning of the Economy (SOFE), with its mathematical planning approach based on methods developed by Leonid Kantorovich
Leonid Kantorovich
Leonid Vitaliyevich Kantorovich was a Soviet mathematician and economist, known for his theory and development of techniques for the optimal allocation of resources...
and its IT approach, was intensively discussed during Soviet times. It was objected to by Marxist economists as representatives of the Political Economy, who were afraid that the mathematical formula approach was too close to Western economics, and might lead to Soviet economics converting to Western economics, which also rely on mathematical formulas. CEMI's first director was N.P. Fedorenko. In 1985 he was succeeded by the Russian academic V.L. Makarov, who still directs the institute.
Academic N.P. Fedorenko and other Russian scientists have issued many books on SOFE; most of them are in Russian.
CEMI headquarters features alto-relievo mosaic composition Möbius Strip
Möbius strip
The Möbius strip or Möbius band is a surface with only one side and only one boundary component. The Möbius strip has the mathematical property of being non-orientable. It can be realized as a ruled surface...
on its facade, created by architect Leonid Pavlov and painters–monumentalists V. Vasiltsov and E. Zharenova in 1976.