The Theory of Business Enterprise is a political economy book that looks at the growing corporate domination of culture and the economy. At its heart The Theory of Business Enterprise is an analysis of two intertwined but clashing motivations; that of business and that of industry. Business is the making of profits. Industry is the making of goods. "The captains of industry" curtailed production in order to keep prices and profits high. The worst fears of businessmen was a "free run of production" which would essentially collapse all profits. In this book, which was published in 1904 during the height of American concern with the growth of business combinations and trusts, Veblen employed his evolutionary analysis to explain these new forms. He saw them as a consequence of the growth of industrial processes in a context of small business firms that had evolved earlier to organize craft production. Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929) was an American economist and sociologist. He is well known 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. 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.

Veblen has been claimed and rejected both by sociologists and economists as being one of theirs. He enriched and attacked both disciplines, as he did so many others: philosophy, history, social psychology, politics, and linguistics. Because he took all knowledge as necessary and relevant to adequate understanding, Veblen was a holistic analyst of the social process. First published in 1904, this classic analysis of the U.S. economy has enduring value today. In it, Veblen posited a theory of business fluctuations and economic growth which included chronic depression and inflation. He predicted the socioeconomic changes that would occur as a result: militarism, imperialism, fascism, consumerism, and the development of the mass media as well as the corporate bureaucracy. Douglas Dowd's introduction places the volume within the traditions of both macroeconomics and microeconomics, tracing Veblen's place among social thinkers, and the place of this volume in the body of his work.

Veblen has been claimed and rejected both by sociologists and economists as being one of theirs. He enriched and attacked both disciplines, as he did so many others: philosophy, history, social psychology, politics, and linguistics. Because he took all knowledge as necessary and relevant to adequate understanding, Veblen was a holistic analyst of the social process. First published in 1904, this classic analysis of the U.S. economy has enduring value today. In it, Veblen posited a theory of business fluctuations and economic growth which included chronic depression and inflation. He predicted the socioeconomic changes that would occur as a result: militarism, imperialism, fascism, consumerism, and the development of the mass media as well as the corporate bureaucracy. Douglas Dowd's introduction places the volume within the traditions of both macroeconomics and microeconomics, tracing Veblen's place among social thinkers, and the place of this volume in the body of his work.

Thorstein Veblen's 'The Theory of Business Enterprise' delves deep into the nature, causes, utility, and drift of business enterprise. Written with a critical and satirical tone, Veblen dissects the capitalist system and explores the relationship between business practices, technological advancements, and societal norms. The book is a masterpiece of economic literature, blending economic theory with social commentary to provide a comprehensive analysis of the workings of modern business. Veblen's writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for anyone interested in economics and sociology. This work is a seminal contribution to the field of economic theory, challenging traditional views on business and offering a unique perspective on the evolution of modern capitalism. Thorstein Veblen, a renowned economist and social critic, brings his expertise and insight to 'The Theory of Business Enterprise'. His background in economics and sociology provides a solid foundation for his critiques of business practices and societal structures. Veblen's keen observations and sharp wit make this book a compelling read for scholars and general readers alike. I highly recommend 'The Theory of Business Enterprise' to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of economic systems and their impact on society.

First published in 1984, this study examines closely the shifting attitudes towards, and theories concerning, imperialism, from the colonial wars of the late nineteenth century to America’s involvement in Vietnam. This lucid investigation encompasses the World Wars, the disintegration of the Colonies and the Cold War. It also gives fascinating insight into the theories of imperialism advocated by such diverse writers as Hobson, Wilshire, Angell, Brailsford, Luxemberg and Lenin. Throughout, the author objectively evaluates the theory that capitalism is a cause of aggression – a fundamental tenet of anti-imperialist writers. It is Norman Etherington’s contention that further investigations into the sources, causes and effects of imperialism can only take place if the various theories concerning it are analysed. A fascinating and detailed study, this reissue will be of particular value to students interested in the theories and history of imperialism.

This new edition of The Economics of Business Enterprise provides a comprehensive survey of the theory of the firm from the perspective of New Institutional Economics. It continues to emphasise the role of the entrepreneur within the firm and the emergence of institutional responses to rent seeking. Neoclassical, Transactions Cost, Austrian, Public Choice and Property Rights perspectives are contrasted and used to analyse private governance arrangements, contemporary developments in organisational form such as ‘the sharing economy’ and the regulatory framework.

The philosopher W.B. Gallie argued many years ago that there could be no simple definition of words such as 'freedom' because they embodied what he called 'essentially contested concepts'. They were words whose meaning had to be fought over and whose compteting definitions arose out of political struggle and conflict. Imperialism, and its close ally, colonialism, are two such contested concepts. This set will give readers an insight in to the main lines of debate about the meanings of imperialism and colonialism over the last two centuries.

First published in 2004. This is Volume I in a collection on Imperialism, Critical Concepts in Historical Studies and includes part one on the Emergence of Imperialism as a Concept and part two, Early Marxist Theories and their Critics.

This two-volume work is intended to map the theoretical heartland of the institutionalist perspective on political economy. Volume I, "Foundations of Institutional Thought", identifies the origins of institutional economics and explores the primary analytical tools in its development. The papers included in Volume II, "Institutional Theory and Policy", consider basic economic processes, institutions for stabilizing and planning economic activities, the role of power and accountability, and emerging global interdependence. Marc R. Tool is the editor of "Journal of Economic Issues".

138 articles are arranged thematically to give easy access to the intellectual processes of this influencial economist. Volume 1 deals with his life and perspectives, volume 2 with "political economy" and volume 3 on "Specialized topics