On the interpretation of Potron’s equations as translations of the social doctrine of the Church

Although Maurice Potron’s mathematical-economic model was clearly based on Christian principles, he almost never explained the links between his model and the doctrine of the Church. This paper explores the possible sources of inspiration of Potron. We look at his family background, his Jesuit network, the Encyclical Rerum Novarum, the Semaines Sociales de France, and the Action Populaire movement. What emerges is that Potron proceeded in a very original and personal way, constructing a model incomparable to anything which existed at the time.