Bücher von Thorstein Veblen

"The Theory of Business Enterprise" is a seminal work by Thorstein Veblen, an American economist and sociologist. The book was first published in 1904 and is considered one of Veblen's most significant contributions to economic thought. In this work, Veblen explores the relationship between business practices and economic theory, offering a critical analysis of the capitalist system.Key aspects of "The Theory of Business Enterprise" include:Concept of Business Enterprise: Veblen examines the nature and functioning of business enterprises within a capitalist framework. He explores how these enterprises operate and exert influence on economic activities.Role of Industrial Evolution: Veblen considers the impact of industrial evolution on the economic structure. He discusses the transformation from a pre-industrial society to an industrial one and how this shift affects business dynamics.Institutions and Social Structure: The book emphasizes the role of institutions and social structures in shaping economic behavior. Veblen critiques the traditional neoclassical economic theories that neglect the sociological and institutional dimensions of economic activity.Conspicuous Consumption and Leisure Class: Veblen introduces concepts such as "conspicuous consumption" and the "leisure class" in this book, ideas that he had previously explored in his earlier work, "The Theory of the Leisure Class" (1899). These concepts highlight how social status and prestige influence economic behavior.Predatory Practices and Business Strategy: Veblen delves into the predatory practices of business and how competitive strategies can sometimes lead to wasteful and non-productive outcomes. He critiques the traditional view that business practices are solely driven by rational economic motives.Thorstein Veblen's writing is characterized by a witty and critical style. "The Theory of Business Enterprise" reflects his broader intellectual project of integrating economic analysis with sociological and institutional considerations. Veblen's work has influenced subsequent generations of economists and sociologists, contributing to the development of institutional economics and the understanding of the social aspects of economic systems.

The Theory of the Leisure Class, is a classical and a rare book, that has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten we at Alpha Editions have made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for present and future generations. This whole book has been reformatted, retyped and redesigned. These books are not made of scanned copies of their original work, and hence their text is clear and readable. This remarkable volume falls within the genres of Social sciences Economic theory, Demography

"The Theory of the Leisure Class" is a groundbreaking work written by Thorstein Veblen, an American economist and sociologist. The book was first published in 1899 and is considered one of the foundational texts in the field of sociology and economic theory. Veblen's central thesis in "The Theory of the Leisure Class" revolves around the concept of conspicuous consumption and the social stratification of society. He explores the idea that individuals in a society engage in certain behaviors and consumption patterns not solely for practical purposes but also to display their social standing and wealth. The term "conspicuous consumption" refers to the acquisition and display of goods and services primarily for the purpose of signaling one's status to others. One of Veblen's key concepts is the distinction between the "leisure class" and the "industrial class." The leisure class, according to Veblen, consists of individuals who derive their wealth from inherited sources rather than productive work. These individuals engage in conspicuous consumption as a way of demonstrating their superior social position. Veblen also introduces the idea of "pecuniary emulation," where individuals strive to emulate the consumption patterns of those in higher social classes, contributing to a cycle of competitive consumption. "The Theory of the Leisure Class" has had a profound influence on the fields of sociology and economics, and it remains relevant for its analysis of the social dynamics of consumption and status. Veblen's work has been widely studied and discussed, and his insights into the role of social and economic factors in shaping human behavior continue to be influential in the study of society and culture.

The Place of Science in Modern Civilisation, and Other Essays, a classical book, has been considered essential throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten we at Alpha Editions have made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for present and future generations. This whole book has been reformatted, retyped and designed. These books are not made of scanned copies of their original work and hence the text is clear and readable.

Veblen's classic position on social status is intertwined with his interest in economic class and the political prospects of that class. The Vested Interests is squarely in that tradition. It aims to show how and why a discrepancy has arisen between the accepted principles of law and custom that underlie the business enterprise and the efficient management of industry. He also speculates on the civil and political difficulties inspired by this discrepancy between business civilization, and the social order.Many of the essays in this collection originally appeared in Dial from October 1918 to January 1919. The Vested Interests includes: "The Instability of Knowledge and Belief," "The Stability of Law and Custom," "The State of the Industrial Arts," "Free Income," "The Vested Interests," "The Divine Rights of Nations," "Live and Let Live," and "The Vested Interests and the Common Man."In his new introduction, Irving Louis Horowitz discusses Veblen as an economist turned sociologist. He explores the dichotomies in Veblen's approach, describing it as radical in input and conservative in outcome. Veblen was analytical in design, but ideological in rhetoric. He was materialist in his economic analysis, but idealistic in his emphasis on law and custom as regulatory mechanisms of the management of society. Horowitz also describes the difficulties Veblen experienced in placing his steadfastly nineteenth century ideals in the context of 1920s America. This is the final volume in Transaction's series of the essential works of Thorstein Veblen. It will be of central interest to sociologists as well as economists, particularly those interested in the history of ideas.

We rely on your support to help us keep producing beautiful, free, and unrestricted editions of literature for the digital age.Will you support our efforts with a donation?1899 was the tail end of the Gilded Age, a time in America of rapid economic expansion that caused a select few to become ultra-wealthy, while millions of commoners struggled in abject poverty. It was against this backdrop that Veblen, an economist and sociologist at the University of Chicago, wrote The Theory of the Leisure Class, a book that brought the phrase ¿conspicuous consumption¿ into the modern vocabulary.Veblen¿s thesis centers on the definition of what he calls the ¿leisure class,¿ the upper social class consisting of wealthy individuals who are socially exempt from productive work. Their work instead becomes what he calls ¿conspicuous consumption¿: spending their wealth in increasingly ostentatious ways in order to preserve their class status. Meanwhile, the lower and middle classes are the ones actually engaged in work that is productive to society¿manufacturing and industry¿with the goal of eventually being able to emulate the social status afforded by the conspicuous consumption of their leisure class masters.Along the way, Veblen links these behaviors with social strictures left over from feudal society, arguing that contemporary human society has not evolved far beyond our medieval peasant-and-lord forefathers. In those ancient societies, productive labor came to be viewed as disreputable and dirty; thus, status is won not by accumulating wealth, but by displaying the evidence of wealth. He argues that many of what some would consider society¿s ills are linked to this fundamental concept: for example, the mistreatment of women¿forcing them into constricting clothing, preventing them from participating in independent economic life¿is a way for their husbands to show off their unemployed status as a kind of conspicuous leisure; or society¿s obsession with sports, celebrity, and organized religion, all forms of conspicuous leisure that bring no productive benefit to society, and on the contrary waste time and resources, but whose practitioners¿superstars and clergy¿maintain a high social status.Though it was written over a hundred years ago when industrial society was just getting its footing, Veblen¿s thesis predicts much of the social stratification we recognize today. Practical labor continues to be viewed as basically demeaning, while people struggle in vain to chase a glimmer of the vast wealth that celebrities, investors, bankers, hedge fund managers, and C-suite dwellers¿the conspicuously-consuming leisure class of today¿openly flaunt. As such, The Theory of the Leisure Class might be one of the most prescient and influential books of economic and social science of the 20th century.

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There is no system of economic theory more logical than that of Marx."The Socialist Economics of Karl Marx and His Followers" is a two parts essay giving a historical overview on Karl Marx's theories on socialism and the Marxism later developed by his followers. Also included in this volume is "Some Neglected Points in the Theory of Socialism", a bold essay linking the popularity of socialism with the decrease in relative wealth, and selected book reviews by Veblen.Thorstein Veblen was an American economist and social scientist who made important contributions to the study of economic institutions and the study of social class. He is best known for his book The Theory of the Leisure Class which introduced the term "conspicuous consumption".

Originally published in 1899, this is a work by Thorstein Veblen, an American economist and sociologist. It is an article written for the American Journal of Sociology publication outlining some of his theories on work. We are republishing this work with a brand new introductory biography of the author with the aim of placing it in the context of his other writings and achievements. The following passage is an extract from the article:'It is one of the commonplaces of the received economic theory that work is irksome. Many a discussion proceeds on this axiom that, so far as regards economic matters, men desire above all things to get the goods produced by labor and to avoid the labor by which the goods are produced. In a general way the common-sense opinion is well in accord with current theory on this head. According to the common-sense-ideal, the economic beatitude lies in an unrestrained consumption of goods, without work; whereas the perfect economic affliction is unremunerated labor. Man instinctively revolts at effort that goes to supply the means of life'

Why is Economics not an Evolutionary Science' was first published in 1898 in the Quarterly Journal of Economics. It's author, Thorstein Veblen, was the son of Norwegian American immigrants. He grew up to become a prominent economist and sociologist, producing many books and articles. The subject of this article is arguably the concept he is best known for: utilising evolutionary theory to develop a 20th century theory of economics. This is a must read for anyone with an interest in the influential ideas of this renowned thinker. We are republishing this work with a brand new introductory biography.

2014 Reprint of 1946 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Many of the essays in this collection originally appeared in "Dial" from October 1918 to January 1919. "The Vested Interest" includes: "The Instability of Knowledge and Belief," "The Stability of Law and Custom," "The State of the Industrial Arts," "Free Income," "The Vested Interests," "The Divine Rights of Nations," "Live and Let Live," and "The Vested Interests and the Common Man."Veblen saw an inherent conflict between financial interests and industrial interests. Veblen's two-class model of social stratification includes a financial class, which owns wealth invested in large holdings, and an industrial class, whose conditions of life are controlled by others and who live by work. On the one hand, financial leaders are almost exclusively concerned with financial matters-especially profit-and make no contribution to production. Veblen sees these captains of industry as parasitic and exploitative. On the other hand, industry is oriented toward workmanship and production. Unlike the pecuniary financial orientation, the industrial orientation is an impersonal standpoint of quantitative relations and mechanical efficiency. According to Veblen, financial leaders obstruct the operation of the industrial system. Veblen argued that an advanced industrial society would be run most efficiently by production engineers who would look out for the welfare of all members of society rather than the vested interests of business.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.