<p>I know there are applications of determinants in economics to <a href="http://aak.cms.opf.slu.cz/pdf/2011/3/valentova.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">compute equilibrium, aide in identifying profit maximisation/cost minimisation</a> and in <a href="http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/classes/econ521/orazem/substitution%20notes.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">calculating elasticity of substitution</a>.</p>

<p>However, is there ever an economic interpretation <em>Just</em> the determinant on its own? What would the scenario be?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-12T15:06:04.543Z
Does [this help](https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/668/whats-an-intuitive-way-to-think-about-the-determinant)?
luchonacho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-12T19:26:31.913Z
@luchonacho it does not quite cover an economic definition
EconJohn
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2017-09-12T19:33:13.983Z
I'm not sure there is one :(
luchonacho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-12T19:44:19.960Z
@luchonacho so why do we use it in calculating elasticity of substitution?
EconJohn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-12T19:47:50.503Z
Let me see if I can come up with something. Surely someone has thought about this.
luchonacho
<mathematical-economics>
Does a determinant ever have its own interpretation in economics?
EconJohn
# Does a determinant ever have its own interpretation in economics?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-10)

I know there are applications of determinants in economics to [compute equilibrium, aide in identifying profit maximisation/cost minimisation](http://aak.cms.opf.slu.cz/pdf/2011/3/valentova.pdf) and in [calculating elasticity of substitution](http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/classes/econ521/orazem/substitution%20notes.pdf).

However, is there ever an economic interpretation *Just* the determinant on its own? What would the scenario be?

**Tags:** mathematical-economics

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Does [this help](https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/668/whats-an-intuitive-way-to-think-about-the-determinant)?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 it does not quite cover an economic definition  
> **username_1**: I'm not sure there is one :(  
> **username_0**: @username_1 so why do we use it in calculating elasticity of substitution?  
> **username_1**: Let me see if I can come up with something. Surely someone has thought about this.  

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## 0 answers

