Mathematical Needs and Economic Interpretations

This paper discusses why the disconnection between formal structures and theoretical content in economic model building can lead to undesirable consequences. By contrast, linking formal and verbal contents by means of coherent and relevant interpretations is worth the effort: it is a relatively simple way of helping to improve mathematical economic theorization. By way of illustration, the interpretation that Arrow and Debreu put on the inclusion of free goods in their proof of existence of general equilibrium is also discussed.