Vilfredo Federico Damaso Pareto (born
Wilfried Fritz Pareto; ; 15 July 1848 – 19 August 1923) was an Italian
engineer,
sociologist,
economist, political scientist, and
philosopher. He made several important contributions to economics, particularly in the study of income distribution and in the analysis of individuals' choices. He was also responsible for popularising the use of the term "
elite" in social analysis.