Edward Elgar Publishing thorstein veblen in the twenty-first century: A Commemoration of The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899–1999)

1999 is the 100th year anniversary of the publication of Veblen’s The Theory of the Leisure Class. This volume commemorates and celebrates Veblen’s seminal contribution to the analysis of consumerist capitalism and assesses the book’s relevance to the twenty-first century. Veblen’s Leisure Class was a pioneering effort to come to terms with industrial capitalism’s consumer culture, and it became the foundation for much of contemporary institutional economics. This book examines Veblen’s contribution to the analysis of the new global economy, the growth of the women’s movement, inequality, consumption and gambling at the turn of the century. It concludes by analysing the effects of the globalization of capitalism. This book will be of great interest to scholars of the history of economic thought and particularly those interested in how we can relate Veblen’s classic work to society today and in the future. Review ‘. . . thought provoking and interesting. Every open minded person would wish to read some of the essays.’ -- Ray Petridis, History of Economics Review ‘Veblen passé? No way! In twelve contemporary essays, institutional economists ably and imaginatively utilize major concepts from Veblen’s Theory of the Leisure Class to create substantive, timely and provocative critiques of current social conditions and policies. Areas addressed include, among others, gender discrimination and inequities, invidious display and emulation and differential class and status claims. This is a major contribution to contemporary discourse on economic incentives and well-being. Veblen lives!’ -- Marc R. Tool, California State University, Sacramento, US Synopsis This volume commemorates and celebrates Veblen's seminal contribution to the analysis of consumer capitalism and assesses the book's relevance to the 21st century. Veblen addressed the global economy, the women's movement, inequality, consumption and gambling in his pioneering work. About the Author Edited by Doug Brown, Professor of Economics, College of Business Administration, Northern Arizona University, US