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The Vested Interests and the Common Man
BCC: In The Vested Interests and the Common Man, long considered a classic text of economics, Veblen discusses various financial transformations within the historical unfolding of capitalism and examines the value of free enterprise in general. It emphasizes the automation and the loss of direct human relations within the industrial arts as well as social repercussions of capitalistic industry. AUTHOR BIO: Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929) was an American economist and social critic. After studying at Carleton College and at Johns Hopkins, Yale-where he received a Ph.D. in 1884-and Cornell, Veblen taught at the University of Chicago, Stanford University, and the University of Missouri, as well as at the New School for Social Research in New York. His works include The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899), The Theory of Business Enterprise (1904), The Engineers and the Price System (1921), and Absentee Ownership and Business Enterprise in Recent Times (1923).
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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About the author
Thorstein Veblen
317 books190 followersThorstein (born 'Torsten') Bunde Veblen was a Norwegian-American economist and sociologist. He was famous as a witty critic of capitalism.
Veblen is famous for the idea of "conspicuous consumption". Conspicuous consumption, along with "conspicuous leisure", is performed to demonstrate wealth or mark social status. Veblen explains the concept in his best-known book, The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899). Within the history of economic thought, Veblen is considered the leader of the institutional economics movement. Veblen's distinction between "institutions" and "technology" is still called the Veblenian dichotomy by contemporary economists.
As a leading intellectual of the Progressive Era, Veblen attacked production for profit. His emphasis on conspicuous consumption greatly influenced the socialist thinkers who sought a non-Marxist critique of capitalism.
Veblen is famous for the idea of "conspicuous consumption". Conspicuous consumption, along with "conspicuous leisure", is performed to demonstrate wealth or mark social status. Veblen explains the concept in his best-known book, The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899). Within the history of economic thought, Veblen is considered the leader of the institutional economics movement. Veblen's distinction between "institutions" and "technology" is still called the Veblenian dichotomy by contemporary economists.
As a leading intellectual of the Progressive Era, Veblen attacked production for profit. His emphasis on conspicuous consumption greatly influenced the socialist thinkers who sought a non-Marxist critique of capitalism.
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September 5, 2012
Amazing book and very relevant today. It was written in 1919 but it seems like the author could have written it last year. Explains the situation in America now.
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