Abstract Herbert Metford Thompson (1856–1939) played a notable role in the transformation of rent theory in the early neoclassical era. His critique of classical and Marshallian views on the subject was well received by his contemporaries, especially in America, and his name is referenced positively in the history of thought literature as an example of an original and independent thinker. However, almost nothing substantial has been written on Thompson, even on his views about distribution, which caught the attention of critics and allies alike. This note provides some background on Thompson and explains his approach to land and rent. It then discusses how his views were negatively received in England by Alfred Marshall and Francis Edgeworth, while being positively received by John B. Clark and others in the United States. The note focuses especially on Thompson's likely influence on Clark.
Fiorito et al. (Wed,) studied this question.