Thorstein Veblen

The Theory of the Leisure Class

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Thorstein Veblen was once described by Fortune magazine as "America's most brilliant and influential critic of modern business and the values of a business civilization," and his wisdom and often dryly satiric wit continues to be obvious today. In The Theory of the Leisure Class, first published in 1899, he coined the phrase "conspicuous consumption" as a critique of the rampant and ostentatious consumerism of his day. Readers a century on will see that the world in which we live today has little changed. In this classic of economic theory, Veblen blasts the superficiality and wastefulness of conspicuous consumption, but also delves into an incisive exploration of the social functions of consumption and how the concepts of property and class work in tandem. Anyone seeking to understand the foundations of modern economic civilization will be enlightened-and entertained-by this work. American economist and sociologist THORSTEIN BUNDE VEBLEN (1857-1929) was educated at Carleton College, Johns Hopkins University and Yale University. Among his most famous works are The Theory of Business Enterprise (1904) and Imperial Germany and the Industrial Revolution (1915).

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cosimo Classics
• Seitenzahl: 256
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. April 2007
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 216mm x 140mm x 15mm
• Gewicht: 366g
• ISBN-13: 9781602061798
• ISBN-10: 1602061793
• Artikelnr.: 22789977

Autorenporträt

Thorstein Bunde Veblen (July 30, 1857 - August 3, 1929) was an influential American economist and sociologist, renowned for his critical analysis of capitalism and his contributions to institutional economics. Veblen's most famous work, The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899), introduced the concepts of "conspicuous consumption" and "conspicuous leisure," which critique the extravagant display of wealth and status by the upper class. His work examined how the wealthy class's consumption patterns are driven by the desire to show social superiority rather than for practical use, and he argued that this behavior leads to societal inefficiency and waste. Veblen's theories also laid the groundwork for the institutional economics perspective, emphasizing the role of institutions, such as laws, customs, and social structures, in shaping economic behavior. He distinguished between "institutions" and "technology," a framework known as the Veblenian dichotomy, which remains influential in contemporary economic thought. Veblen's critiques of capitalism, alongside his focus on the broader societal context in which economic activities occur, have made him a significant figure in the field of economics and sociology.