This book presents a coherent and systematic exposition of the mathematical theory of the problems of optimization and stability. Both of these are topics central to economic analysis since the latter is so much concerned with the optimizing behaviour of economic agents and the stability of the interaction processes to which this gives rise. A basic knowledge of optimization and stability theory is therefore essential for understanding and conducting modern economic analysis. The book is designed for use in advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in economic analysis and should, in addition, prove a useful reference work for practising economists.

Although the text deals with fairly advanced material, the mathematical prerequisites are minimised by the inclusion of an integrated mathematical review designed to make the text self-contained and accessible to the reader with only an elementary knowledge of calculus and linear algebra. We strongly urge the reader to peruse the material contained in the mathematical review before proceeding to the main text. Furthermore, Chapter 1 on convexity is to some extent a reference chapter, and can be regarded as an extension to the mathematical review in that it presents certain fundamental properties of convex sets and functions which are used throughout the text. The reader with a basic knowledge of convexity may begin with Chapter 2, where the theory of static optimization is developed. Chapter 4 on comparative statics and duality can be read immediately after Chapter 2 if so desired.