[8]Subsequently, Cournot held positions as professor of mathematics, chief examiner for undergraduate students, and rector of Dijon Academy.

Today many economists believe this book to be the point of departure for modern economic analysis[citation needed].

The Cournot duopoly model developed in his book also introduced the concept of a (pure strategy) Nash equilibrium, the reaction function and best-response dynamics.

Cournot believed that economists must utilize the tools of mathematics only to establish probable limits and to express less stable facts in more absolute terms.

He further held that the practical uses of mathematics in economics do not necessarily involve strict numerical precision.